Sunday 6 December
IRELAND'S EYE
Clonmel may have fallen to the weather today but there is a fine Irish card at Punchestown which features the Grade 1 John Durkan chase while Kelso in Scotland and Warwick provide two decent meetings with the feature event at the Northern fixture being the Scottish Borders National over four miles. A former Irish pointer can land the feature at Punchestown while an English three time point victor can land the feature in Scotland.
After a few lean enough days we got well and truly amongst the winners yesterday when our nap Telenor (5/2 morn-6/4) taking the novice chase at Navan from our saver Lurgan (5/2) while Ruby Walsh and Paul Nicholls once again combined to take the Saturday feature at Sandown with Twist Magic (5/2-9/4) while Babe Heffron (7/2) was only just nailed in the closing stages in a Wetherby handicap chase. Indeed we also had a 100% record in our back up service when Master Of The Hall (11/10-evens) easily opened his hurdling account at Sandown under Barry Geraghty while Magnanimity (2/1) edged home in front in a similar Navan contest.
Former point/bumper winner Copper Bleu developed into a decent hurdler for the Phillip Hobbs yard last season and though the 7yo proved somewhat disappointing on his chase debut at Exeter about a month ago he should be supported to make amends in the 2m novice chase at Warwick today at 12-40. With trip and ground to suit the ‘Dickie’ Johnson ridden gelding can build on that experience and he could prove to strong for the Venetia Williams trained ex French Quartz De Thaix who scored a double over hurdles up to 2m 1f for his present yard, including on heavy ground and he may not have been suited by a step up in trip on subsequent efforts – including a moderate runner up placing at Fontwell over 2m 2f almost three weeks ago.
Feature event of the day is the John Durkan chase at Punchestown at 2-05 over 2m 4f and it promises to be a thriller with 5 very useful contenders for the money and they include four previous course scorers. Former point winner Joncol from the Paul Nolan yard just gets the nod over former Pierce Hurdle winner Barker as the form of his seasonal debuts effort when splitting subsequent easy Cheltenham Paddy Power chase winner Tranquil Sea and Trafford Lad in a competitive Grade 3 was an excellent effort in light of the fact that the 6yo had to give 9lbs to that useful winner in that Naas race. The winner of three of his five chase starts the son of Bob’s Return is in his element in the mud and is a thorough stayer and though he has some 6lbs to find on official ratings with Barker who ran out a wide margin winner over yesterdays Tingle Creek runner up Forpadydeplasterer in a Grade 1 over 2m at Naas. Though the 8yo has scored over this trip on three occasions he may just be vulnerable to the stamina laden selection who boasts a good record at this track having scored over course and distance over fences a year ago in the novice chase on the corresponding card.
Feature event North of the border today at Kelso is the Scottish Borders National chase (handicap) over 4m and though Nigel Twiston Davies runner here Jaunty Journey may be short on experience he can make the long trek worthwhile under capable 5lb claimer Tom Molloy. This six year old and former pointer proved a decent staying type for Carl Llewellyn and though the Chepstow 3m novice chase winner failed to give weight away to a promising sort in Great Endeavour at Towcester last time and is competing in his first handicap he looks the type who will be suited by the step up in trip and with his yard going well he can beat the top weight Morgan Be who is guaranteed at the distance having finished a close second in the Eider Chase back in February at Newcastle over 4m 1f.
Dessie Hughes Lenabane can open his chase account at the third time of asking in the 2m 4f novice chase at Punchestown at 2-35 following two decent efforts when placed here over 2m and todays trips in the last five weeks. The lightly raced maiden hurdle winner ran well in a Group 2 Hurdle subsequently and a reproduction of his second placing to easy winner Jered here over course and distance on heavy three weeks ago should suffice here and Paddy Floods mount can put his chase experience to good use and account for the Paul Nolan 6yo Sam Adams – a faller on his only point start but he developed into a decent novice hurdler last season winning twice. However the selections added experience can swing the issue in his favour while Noel Meades Sigma Lifestyle is another to consider.
2-40 WARWICK – 2m 5f maiden hurdle
Emma Lavelles MAJOR HARRY can collect at the fourth time of asking in this staying maiden hurdle under Jack Doyle following an encouraging seasonal debut and the 5yo can beat the Toomebridge point winner Sandynow who will appreciate this step up in trip and the ground holds no fears for the Henry Daly runner.
3-05 PUNCHESTOWN – 2m 4f hc chase
Trainer Paul Flynn has had a fine season to date and he can further bolster his seasonal record with a win for the easy Cork 2m 5f chase winner Orpheus Valley on just his third chase start as the light weight looks to have plenty going for him here under Mick Darcy. Willie Mullins Financial Reward could pose a big danger if handling the extreme ground conditions.
ADVICE
BET 4pt win (nap) COPPER BLEU 12-40 Warwick
BET 2pt win (saver) Quartz De Thaix 12-40 Warwick
BET 4pt win JONCOL 2-05 Punchestown
BET 2pt win (saver) BARKER 2-05 Punchestown
BET 4pt win JAUNTY JOURNEY 2-20 Kelso
BET 2pt win (saver) MORGAN BE 2-20 Kelso
BET 4pt win LENABANE 2-35 Punchestown
BET 1pt win (saver) SAM ADAMS 2-35 Punchestown
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.
Saturday's Return was: PROFIT 3.5 points
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