Thursday 12 November
IRELAND'S EYE
BETDAQ are the main sponsors at both Wolverhampton and Southwell today but we will be sticking with the jumpers at Ludlow and Taunton. Unfortunately todays fine card at Clonmel was called off this morning after torrential rain overnight. Gordon Elliott can continue in the winning mode on another of his trips to England today where a handicap hurdler can score under a promising claimer while a former luckless pointer looks to have a decent chance of taking the bumper on the same card.
Nap Burton Port (9/2 morn-10/3) did the business in the opening novice chase at Bangor yesterday from our saver Massasoit (5/4-11/10) and we followed up half an hour later when That’s Rhythm (8/1) took a handicap chase. Inch Rebel (7/4 morn-5/4) found one too good in the penultimate contest on the all weather at Dundalk last night while Topsham Belle (13/2) also finished runner up at Warwick in a novice hurdle.
The 2m selling hc hurdle at Ludlow today for conditional jockeys offers the Gordon Elliott trained Genari a good opportunity to land his second hurdle win and follow up his snug Sedgefield success over a furlong further on penultimate start. Though the blinkered 6yo is a pound higher than when going down gallantly over course and distance a month ago he can gain compensation here under useful 8lb claimer Keith Donoghue on ground which suits and he may confirm the form with the 5 time flat winning mare Gamesters Lady who finished two placings and some three lengths behind the selection at this venue on what was just her second hurdle start.
Two decent hurdlers First Point and Noble Request lock horns in the 3-00 at Ludlow today – a 2m novice chase with both making their chase debuts. The first named gets the vote as Nicky Hendersons 6yo – a dual winner in his native Germany and winner of four hc hurdles, including one over course and distance boasts a fine win/run ration and the Barry Geraghty ridden gelding looks a safer bet than the near top class Phillip Hobbs runner Noble Request who landed the Grade 2 Scottish Champion Hurdle in 2006 and also finished runner up in the Grade 1 Fighting Fifth and Christmas Hurdle the same year. However he did make a reappearance following a lengthy absence lately and it remains to be seen if the 8yo is quite the force of old.
The in form Classic Clover looks to have decent claims in the 2m 7 1/2f hc chase at Taunton today having failed to land the hat trick at Wincanton last time when running well out of the handicap and the Aidan Coleman ridden 9yo still looks on a winnable mark. However we will give the vote to one of the top weights Dune Raider from the Newland yard with Timmy Murphy on board despite the fact that the 8yo has gone somewhat ‘off the boil’ of late. Nevertheless there were signs of a return to better form in taking fourth in a better class handicap last time.
Backing former pointers in bumpers is hardly a profitable means of making money but there are exceptions to most rules and we will ‘buck the trend’ in siding with the Evan Williams trained Just One Thing in the closing bumper at Ludlow at 4-00 today. This 4yo son of Zagreb has a tendency to race freely but he was still going quite well when falling in the closing stages in two points at Taylorstown and Toomebridge on differing grounds during a two week period in April/May. His last run can be discounted as he did not seem to be suited by Ffos Las last time in a similar contest but a return to a right handed track could see the Paul Moloney ridden gelding make all here at the expense of obvious danger Wallace Monument who has good prospects of making amends for an odds on defeat in a Southwell bumper some 13 months ago and he could prove a more rounded individual on this occasion for the Henderson/Geraghty team.
1-10 TAUNTON 2m 3 1/2f hc hurdle
Though William Codds mare CONKER NAILS is hardly a ‘world beater’ the 8yo could appreciate the better ground here and with the in form Jamie Codd (leading Irish point to point table at present) on board she merits a wager here with Tayman looking the most likely alternative.
2-00 LUDLOW – 3m hc ch
Nicky Hendersons yard are finally finding their feet and they can collect with the former Irish point winner You And I who just beat the useful Chariot Charger in Athenry last year before opening hurdle account at 4th time of asking when narrowly taking a Southwell hc over 2m 6f over five months ago on his chase debut.
ADVICE
BET 3pt win GENARI 1-30 Ludlow
BET 2pt win (saver) GAMESTERS LADY 1-30 Ludlow
BET 5pt win (nap) FIRST POINT 3-00 Ludlow
BET 3pt win DUNE RAIDER 3-40 Taunton
BET 2pt win (saver) CLASSIC CLOVER 3-40 Taunton
BET 4pt win JUST ONE THING 4-05 Ludlow
BET 2pt win (saver) WALLACE MONUMENT 4-05 Ludlow
BETDAQ MULTIBET 1pt doubles/treble – FIRST POINT, GENARI and YOU AND I
We are now recording the daily profit and loss of Ireland's Eye to help readers gauge the current form of the service. We will provide the profit / loss on the previous day to a £1 level stake on each selection (eg: a 5 point bet = a £5 stake). In the interests of consistency the profit / loss will be recorded at SP prices, however BETDAQ users can reasonably expect to beat SP in the majority of races.
Monday's Return was: LOSS 8.34 points
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