Friday 4 December
IRELAND'S EYE
There are two fine meetings today at Sandown and Exeter and a former decent Irish pointer can extend his winning record in a competitive Exeter novice while we will ‘buck the trend’ by going for the outsider of four in a similarly fascinating Sandown novice.
We did not have much joy yesterday with our choices Vodka Brook (11/4-13/8) and Aux Le Bahn (9/2) just finishing getting ousted in a novice chase at Wincanton, An Cathaoir Mor (5/2) finishing one place in front of our nap Sorceror (4/1) behind Captain Cee Bee at Naas while Pearlysteps (4-3/1) finished a fair runner up in a Leicester novice.
The 1-25 at Sandown today is a 2m 4 1/2f hc chase and Colm Murphy brings across the three time winner Total Victory from Ireland and the three time hurdle winner seeks his first victory over fences at the 11th time of asking. Though the 6yo has prospects on some of his form at home and away he would be better suited by better ground and is passed over here in favour of the Brendan Powell trained Award Winner who will be suited by soft ground having scored twice on these conditions over similar trips over hurdles last year. Though the 6yo was trounced by the well above average Tatatiano on good ground at Exeter over a shorter trip he shaped much better last time over 2 miles when just failing to catch the warm favourite Sunnyhillboy on soft at Lingfield and the step up in trip here and the assistance of Tony McCoy can swing the issue in favour of the son of Alflora on just his fourth start over fences and his first handicap. Paul Nicholls 4yo French import made it 2 from 2 over fences when scoring in style from an average field at Newbury over 2m 2 1/2f on his British debut lately and though he went up 8lbs for that success he rates the main danger to the selection.
Alan Kings former decent point winner Bensalem has only tasted defeat once to date and that was a narrow defeat at the hands of the talented Diamond Harry at Cheltenham over 2m 5f in a Grade 2 hurdle. The 6yo made a winning start to his chase career when keeping on gamely to ‘pull it out of the fire’ when getting the better of the promising Chariot Charger at Plumpton over 2m 4f over two weeks ago. That track did not show the Turtle Island in the best of lights but todays 2m 3 1/2f novice at Exeter should prove ideal and though it is far from a straight forward task the ‘Choc’ Thornton ridden gelding can see off the Paul Nicholls representative Take The Breeze who ran out a clear cut and well supported winner over the track over 2m 2f almost a month ago on his chase debut almost a moth ago.
There is an interesting 2m 4f Grade 2 novice hurdle at Sandown at 2-00 with the three heading the market looking difficult to separate. However the vote goes to the Barry Connell trained Frascati Park – a consistent and useful son of Bach who is yet to finish out of the first two. An impressive winner of his three bumper starts under his owner he does tend to take a good hold and it was probably that tendency rather than soft ground which saw him go down comprehensively in the end to the useful Reve De Sivola at Chepstow on his hurdle debut over todays trip. With improvement to come he can make the most of the 4lbs he receives from the obvious danger Like Minded who looks a useful sort on the evidence of a clear cut win in a Kempton novice hurdle over 2m 5f over a month ago. However he does have to prove himself as adept on a softer surface.
Just the four runners but the 3m 1/2f chase at Sandown at 2-35 has a decidedly open look to it. With Tatenen proving somewhat disappointing and with some queries over the trip and the latter comment also applying to the bottom weight Seven Is My Number ithis could hinge between the second Nicholls runner Kicks For Free and seasonal debutant Or Jeune. However the first named has not gone of from a promising start over fences and though he should get home in what may prove to be a steadily run affair he may have to give best to the Moore runner. The Grand Tresor gelding boasts plenty of experience over the major obstacles and handles soft ground and also boasts a win over 2m 4f on soft here over hurdles and additionally is a dual winner over the trip – something that the rest of the field cannot bring to the table.
2-45 EXETER – 2m 1f novice hurdle
The Victor Dartnall trained HONOURABLE ARTHUR has not got into the frame in two starts in bumpers to date when fancied on occasions but the 6yo warrants a wager her on his hurdle debut under Jack Doyle. Beyond Moonbeams rates the best alternative.
ADVICE
BET 4pt win AWARD WINNER 1-25 Sandown
BET 1pt win (saver) RIVALISTE 1-25 Sandown
BET 6pt win (nap) BENSALEM 1-35 Exeter
BET 4pt win FRASCATI PARK 2-00 Sandown
BET 4pt win OR JEAUNE 2-35 Sandown
BET 2pt win (saver) KICKS FOR FREE 2-35 Sandown
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.
Thursday's Return was: LOSS 21 points
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