4/1

A simple matter fo choice yesterday - the 405 at Cork saw both hotpots fill the 1-2 berths. Barcelona won 3-1 BUT Chelsea drew 1-1 BUT the game was in running - Chelsea scored first and the opportunity to get out by trading (or greening up) was available right til the end. At the prices, BArca were far more appetising at 1.23, followed by Nina Carberry's mount at 1.18 a,then Chelski at 1.12 ( you could get out at 1.03 OR immediately after the first goal)

Today sees NAas and Southwell
110 STHL
BETTING FORECAST: 2/5 Lemon N Sugar, 4/1 Nizhoni, 14/1 Silk Gallery, 16/1 Lady Dunhill, 25/1 Flirty, Singapore Girl, 33/1 Our Girl Ally, 50/1 April Lady, Beaux Yeux, 66/1 Always Engaged.

SPOTLIGHT VERDICT: It is hard to oppose LEMON N SUGAR and, unless one of the newcomers can run a bit, she can score at the main expense of Nizhoni.[GN]

YIKES - maiden fillies stakes class 6 - TAXIIIIII!
Only the 2 horses under 16/1, 3 debutants and 3 one time outers potentially open to improvement (but priced to NOT be competitive)
Unraced since October, needs handle drop in trip and different surface - has run at Lingfield
2nd fav interesting of course - more recentl run on 27th December
1.1 for the fav and 1.35 for the 2nd fav to place here.

115 NAAS

BETTING FORECAST: 10/11 Made In Taipan, 13/8 Jayo, 9/1 Chiraaz, 12/1 Glenquin Castle, 20/1 Dalian, 25/1 Saddler´s Native, 33/1 Rookery Rebel, 66/1 Mcbride´s Return.

SPOTLIGHT VERDICT: MADE IN TAIPAN (nap) gets the vote. It looks significant that Tom Mullins is prepared to give him this chance to make amends just nine days after an indifferent display in the Grade 1 Durkan New Homes Novice Chase at Leopardstown. He did not jump as fluently as on his first two starts over fences, and was beaten more than 10l in fourth behind Follow The Plan, who he had previously beaten by over 2l at Navan. His jumping had been notably assured on that occasion, as it had been when trouncing Jaamid by 17l over the course and trip in November.\n Jayo, though only a remote fifth to Made In Taipan on that occasion, can be rated a serious danger now that he has obtained more experence. He reversed form with Jaamid when second to Top Of The Rock at Navan, and appreciated the step-up to 2m4f when beating Bringbackthebiff and subsequent winner Good Fella at the same venue last time. The quality of his jumping should help to compensate for the fact that this trip may be a bit sharper than ideal.\n

The straight 8 here so 3 the place. 3 horses sub 20/1. Again ,like 405 Cork, one of those markets where the front 2 make up the book pretty much, one at odds on adn teh other a shade of odds against.
Ruby is on Jayo which is always comforting!
Soft ground to contend with today - will this be an issue?
1.14 for Made in Taipan and 1.17 for jayo to place

145 NAAS
BETTING FORECAST: 2/5 Mikael D´Haguenet, 13/2 Fisher Bridge, 8/1 Clan Tara, The Bishop Looney, Western Charmer, 25/1 Garrai Ard.

SPOTLIGHT VERDICT: MIKAEL D'HAGUENET will be a warm order to make it three in a row since joining Willie Mullins from France. The Lavirco gelding made a good impression when beating Realt Dubh in a 2m maiden at Navan in November and produced one of the shocks of the season when beating the highly regarded Pandorama in the three-runner Barry & Sandra Kelly Memorial Novice Hurdle over 2m4f at the same venue three weeks ago. His form was given a couple of airings at Leopardstown over Christmas, with Realt Dubh making heavy enough weather of landing the odds in a 27-runner maiden, and the Navan also-ran Aura About You taking a fair second in a good mares' event.\n

Warm order here BUT only 2 the place. Ruby on board again
1.37 to win and 1.15 to place which is relatively big given it's only 2 to place

345 NAAS
BETTING FORECAST: 5/4 Tonto Murphy, 7/4 Quadrillon, 8/1 Heavenly Bound, 10/1 Nurse Dallas, 14/1 Definite Appeal, Take It All Back, 16/1 Persian Buck, 20/1 Corbo Cruiser, 25/1 Topper Harley.

SPOTLIGHT VERDICT: Only one stands out on form here and that's TONTO MURPHY. The son of Oscar ran with a great deal of credit on his debut at Navan last month, he didn't have the pace to get to the first two, but kept on to very good effect when beaten less than four lengths into third place behind newcomer Saludos. Despite the winner running no race on his hurdling debut at Fairyhouse on Wednesday, the runner-up Western Leader franked the form by bolting up in a bumper at Limerick last week.\n

Carbon copy of the 405 Cork yesterday - Mullins v Nina Carberry - both at 11/8 at present, and both in another bumper where the market must be watched.
1.22 to place for both market leaders who cannot be separated at present. The only way to make a decision as regards these is through the live market. In the 405 Cork yesterday, the one for money was the well backed fav who won by 16 lengths!
Dare we mention the FA Cup again after some of yesterday's results? Man Utd away to Southampton looks stand out ( as long as Matt Le Tiss is not playing for the Saints!)

ONE A DAY
At the prices, it would seem to be Mikael D'Haguenet at 1.15 -a 1/3 favourite in the win market and with Ruby Walsh on board. Has won his last 2 in heavy ground which is a good sign for today's ground. On a hatrick anad priced to get that hattrick. No market movers amongst the opposition just yet

The 2 horse races are difficult because one of the 2 may underperform, and it is largely luck which dictates whether we have a successful bet or not.
Dare we look at LEmon n Sugar at 1.1 to place? The race type is wrong, the horse has had a long absence ( relative to the others) - will Nizhoni place at 1.35 - he's priced to do so.

As things stand, I think Mikael D'Haguenet will be my one today although I do prefer 3 the place races. Normally I do not really venture into Irish racing but circumstances dictate I must today