Double Dutch, 8th December 2013

Double Dutch

Double Dutch, 8th December 2013

I was unavoidably absent on Saturday and Matt kindly stepped in at short notice to cover for me.

Not only did he ensure there was no break in service, he played the captain’s role to a tee guiding us to a magnificent 20.5625/1 double at BOG prices.

Yesterday’s results were as follows:

Hinterland: won at 13/2
Taquin De Seuil: 3rd at 3/1
———————————
Sire de Grugy: won at 15/8
Captain Conan: 3rd at 9/4

Results to date:
76 winning selections from 276 = 27.54%
23 winning doubles in 75 days = 30.67%

Stakes: 148.00pts
Returns: 146.28pts

P/L : -1.72pts (-1.16% ROI)

A couple of races from across the Irish Sea today:

12.30 Punchestown

Ange Balafre and The Game Changer are both proven at this level and over today’s trip. Between them they are 5 from 10 at this class (3/6 and 2/4) and have a combined record of 5 from 9 (3/5 & 2/4) at this bare two-mile distance.

They reoppose here today after finishing 1st and 3rd (4.25 lengths apart) at Gowran Park fifteen days ago and I expect them both to be around at the finish again today.

They both still seem capable of further progression, but I think there’s more scope for improvement from The Game Changer and the fact that he’s 3lbs better off for the rematch is enough to make him my first pick at 5/1 with PP, who also offer 11/4 about Ange Balafre.

1.15 Cork

A three-mile trip awaits the eight runners here and it’s fairly clear to see why Lots of Memories has been installed as the 15/8 favourite (PP). He never seems to run a bad race and his last run, where he finished 4th was the first time in 11 starts that he’d failed to make the frame (3 x 1st, 6 x 2nd and 1 x 3rd) and that run can be excused as it was at grade 2 level.

His previous outing was a grade 3 course and distance win here, when he dominated throughout and coasted home by 10 lengths. He’s ultra consistent and likes a bit of cut in the ground and this race really should be his for the taking. PP’s 15/8 looks almost generous.

As one to mount a challenge, I think I’ll side with The Job is Right, who steps up in grade here after a string of consistent performances over hurdles.

He broke his duck in a bumper at Limerick in May and since then has finished 22331, winning last time out with a gutsy battling run to see of the Willie Mullins-trained 5/4 favourite at Clonmel.

He’s still unexposed as a hurdler and I think he’ll come on for the step up in class today and could be the one to run the favourite closest. Should he prevail, however, we’ll be handsomely rewarded by the 5/1 odds on offer from PP.

4 x 0.5pt BOG doubles with PP as follows:
Ange Balafre / Lots of Memories @ 9.80/1
Ange Balafre / The Job is Right @ 21.50/1
The Game Changer / Lots of Memories @ 16.25/1
The Game Changer / The Job is Right @ 35/1