Thursday 3 December
IRELAND'S EYE
With meetings at Market Rasen, Wincanton, Leicester and Naas we are spoilt for betting opportunities today and we will be mainly concentrating on the Irish meet which features the return of the 2008 Supreme Novice Hurdle winner Captain Cee Bee on his first start for some time and making his chase debut. However it is an unexposed ex point winner that ‘catches the eye’ in a competitive handicap at the Kildare fixture while an Alner chaser may gain compensation in an open looking Wincanton novice chase.
We were just run out of the winning prize with yesterday when County Colours (7/2-11/4) threw away a winning opportunity in a Catterick bumper while Inistioge (7-13/2) finished in the frame at Fairyhouse. Once again however we did better with our back up service when Skippers Brig (6/4-5/4) obliged at Ayr while Ninetienth Minute (5s morn-10/3) was nailed late under Tony McCoy at Fairyhouse.
All eyes will be on Edward Harts 2008 Supreme Novice winner Captain Cee Bee on the 8yo’s first start for some for over 17 months in the 2m novice chase at Fairyhouse today at 12-50 with Tony McCoys in the plate. However this looks far from an easy chase introduction for the son of Germany and the testing ground is hardly a bonus either as all his 5 career wins were achieved on ground worse than good to soft. Todays heavy ground will place an added load on the obvious class act in the race but we will side with the former decent point winner Sorceror on his second start over fences. A winner of a Ballydurn good ground point Arthur Moores 5yo he has shown an aptitude for softer ground in the interim and scored in a Punchestown 2m maiden hurdle earlier this year. In addition he ran well on his chase debut behind the useful River Liane over course and distance over a month ago and though he has a neck to find with the runner up on that occasion An Cathaoir Mor he may turn the tables with that rival who does nevertheless boast a fine course record having landed a bumper and handicap hurdle here over this trip and also he also finished a fair third to the useful Cousin Vinny in a hurdle. However Arthur Moores charge may have the most scope for progression and just gets the nod to beat An Cathaoir Mor while Colm Murphys Zaarito must enter calculations as the 7yo held a chance when falling two out at Thurles but he may need another run to restore his confidence.
Henry Dalys Pearlysteps is tipped to land the 2m novice hurdle at Leicester today at 2-35 on his third start over hurdles under 3lb claimer Ollie Greenall. The 6yo made a pleasing debut when just losing out to a decent sort in Red Habour in a good ground Ascot bumper just over a year ago and has since run with credit in a couple of novice hurdles on easier ground – the last time over 2m 4f. A return to the minimum trip and better ground could see the son of Alflora open his hurdle and career account at the probable expense of Plumpton novice hurdle winner Champtho from the in form Oliver Sherwood yard. Though the 4yo is penalised for that success he boasts plenty of experience having landed two flat contests up to 2m 1f in his native France.
Although the 2-45 contest at Wincanton today may just have only 5 runners it looks a most open looking event with all bar one looking to have winning prospects. Despite the fact that the Alner runner Vodka Brook has finished runner up on no more than five occasions his only victory came at this venue earlier this year over a furlong further in a handicap hurdle on soft ground. The Daryl Jacobs ridden 6yo let us down last time on his chase debut where he was outgunned late by Pocket Aces but a bad stumble at the ninth there probably did not aid his cause and he is given another chance to atone here. Noel Chances former dual point winner and lightly raced Aux Le Bahnn rates the main danger as the 8yo boasts a fine win to run ratio and he is right at home on easy ground and has scored over the distance. However the Jack Doyle ridden gelding is making his chase debut on his first start for some 11 months and he may need the run here.
The most interesting runner in the 2m 4f hc chase at Naas at 2-50 is the Ted Walsh trained Sea Bass on just his third chase start. The Turtle Island 6yo showed decent form ‘between the flags’ and he followed up a close second in a decent Belharbour point in 2007 to score well at Horse & Jockey a month later on demanding ground. Despite the fact that he has not been seen for some 13 months and makes his chase debut here he runs after failing to show much in a couple of decent (including a Grade 3) chases last year off a feasible mark and has the assistance of Ruby Walsh in what looks just a fair handicap. The luckless Clarkey may pose the major threat here under capable claimer Padraig Roche.
12-20 NAAS – 2m 3f maiden hurdle
Colm Murphys Ballydurn point winner Gates Of Rome looks the answer to the opener at Naas on the back of a promising effort to take second in a decent Punchestown maiden hurdle last time and the Davy Russell ridden 5yo can collect in a big field which houses some interesting and unexposed types.
1-25 MARKET RASEN – 2m 3f novice hurdle
Templemore point winner Frosty Lad may prove the answer here on his second Park start as the Ferdy Murphy trained 5yo showed promise on his Park debut in a course and distance maiden hurdle here lately and he can build on that performance here under Graham Lee.
ADVICE
BET 4pt win (nap) SORCEROR 12-50 Naas
BET 2pt win (saver) AN CATHAOIR MOR 12-50 Naas
BET 4pt win PEARLYSTEPS 2-35 Leicester
BET 2pt win (saver) CHAMTHO 2-35 Leicester
BET 4pt win VODKA BROOK 2-45 Wincanton
BET 2pt win (saver) AUX LE BAHN 2-45 Wincanton
BET 3pt win SEABASS 2-50 Naas
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.
Wednesday's Return was: LOSS 24 points
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