On the Double 25-11-14

UK Trainers have a fine record when running their horses on the flat in Ireland in 2014. They have contested 160 races and won 28 of them, a 17.5% strike rate and show a level stakes profit of nearly 27 points. Tony Carroll had 2 winners from 2 runners last week. He had to work for it though, both horses winning no more than a head and justifying the trainers’ shrewd decision to employ present and former champion jockeys Smullen and O’Brien. Carroll has the taste for it now and has entered 8 horses this Friday, including 3 last time out winners.

Dundalk doubles up again this week with a midweek meeting along with Friday and both are interesting cards. Wednesday gets the better of the action quality wise.  Nini Ok is the type of profile I like for a bet in the 6f handicap as it drops in class. The JJ Murphy runner showed a fair level of form last time when 4^th behind Whaileyy, a horse of the like he won’t meet here. Yulong Xiongfeng should take beating in the 7f maiden after three promising starts for Eddie Lynam. The Showcasing colt has run well last twice staying on in Galway and Listowel behind two smart types of Aidan O’Brien in Jamaica and Smugglers Cove, while not really handling either track. I’d expect a better run for the benefit of experience and a consistent flat surface here.  Lynam’s is doubly entered but I wouldn’t like to see him run in the Nursery as a mark of 79 is plenty and Lily’s Rainbow is the horse I fancy in that. Mrs Denise Foster from Enfield trains and her charges are often overpriced as a small stable. This filly has caught the eye when staying on well here in a Nursery behind Private Party and then 5^th in a decent Navan maiden last day, surrounded by higher rated rivals. She should be much better for those runs and with connections bound to be a price. Jim Bolger has what looks like two well handicapped horses in the final races on the midweek card and with average looking runs last time out on first inspection, should be big prices too. Sparanai in the 1m2f handicap was hampered badly at the top of the straight in Leopardstown in her first handicap and can be forgiven that. She travelled well into the straight that day, only beaten 5l after all and subsequently dropped 2lb to a rating of 70. That look’s generous on her run at Naas in June where 7^th not beaten far in a hot maiden. Intense Debate ran well to a point in a 1m4f maiden last Friday and just didn’t stay, the winner Enzani got 80 while Bolger’s charge remains a lowly 63. The filly also didn’t stay 12f in Roscommon and went far too fast early at the Curragh in October and as a result has slid down the handicap. She has shown more than enough ability in the past to win this off 63 and after an unusually quiet year for the Master of Coolcullen, his team may be ready to fire. 

Friday’s card is more familiar with lots of horses known to us from the last couple of months on the all-weather. Sharjah should go close again in the 12f handicap getting in the 47-70 off top rating after a fair 2^nd last time. Nedera will make a bold bid for the hat-trick in the mile race, her form working out when Almosthaditall won last Friday. Manorov was sent off a silly short price last week from a wide stall over a trip unknown, but could be the opposite this week, dropping to a trip he’s run well over and hopefully finding a better barrier. Avenue Montaigne brings an excellent level of form to the 7f fillies maiden and should win for a trainer who’s done superbly with his 2yo’s in 2014. Danz Gift was slow away last time out from a wide stall, wide throughout and green he flashed home when only beat as a selection a fortnight ago. The race has been given a boost by Kimbay running well last week and with normal improvement for the education of that run, I’d expect the 3yo sprinter to start filling its potential. Alfaayza won with a degree of authority here a fortnight ago I thought, always travelled like the best horse and only run down late as sat too close to a frenetic pace early. A 2lb rise is not harsh and I can see the Pat Flynn runner being a price against rivals that may well be over bet like Marble Statuette, Sandy Smile and the UK runner.