An epiphany moment at Leopardstown

Start as you mean to go on is what I’ve always been told. I did just that in the opening race on Monday when availing of some of the ‘wrist on’ (4-5) Willie’s so called aeroplane Marasonnien. An expensive exercise in listening to the wrong people !Losses were quickly pulled back courtesy of Midnight Game in the second race after a few visits along the rails to avail of the 5-4 on offer. Swerved the next few races and then backed Notus De La Tour each way on the basis of not fancying Bog Warrior in the featured Novice Chase. Showed admirable discipline by waiting until the last and then blew the day and some by selling out on Champagne Fever at 6-4 and 5-4 to far too much. Exit stage left with wounded pride and note to self to visit ATM before departing next day.

Waited until the second race on day two before getting involved. Smart move indeed as I recklessly took any 2-5 on offer about the day’s steering job ,Aupcharlie. Could have laid at a shorter price to save my stake,but hey it’s only money!  Seriously behind now I couldn’t resist Big Zeb at 4-5 in the featured two miler and although the win helped I was still well behind on the week. Everyone is entitled to have an epiphany moment and mine came in the featured handicap chase where I took 100-7 and 100-8 the winner Cross Appeal and watched joyfully as Carberry winged the last en route to victory. Good times!  By the time I had collected and settled some embarrassing losses with those impatient bookmakers the bumper was off, so no bet in the last.

Day three started nicely when I took the evens about the winner Make Your Mark in the opener. Staring down the barrel just twenty four hours ago I was starting to feel good about life. Like all good things it never lasts and at 11-10 Mourad received a strong order from me and promptly put a nice hole in the ship when failing to cope with Volar La Vedette. A little each way on Wilde Wit Pleasure helped restore confidence and a nice chunk on The Bosses Cousin in the bumper  restricted losses on the day to a em ,more manageable level.

Glam Gerry was a huge help in the opener on the final day. I took 7-2 and 3-1 overnight before pressing the bet at 9-4 along the rails. A few accounts will be closed after that but never mind, a winner’s a winner . Took a little 4-1 about Unaccompanied in the featured hurdle before facing up to my Waterloo moment in the maiden hurdle. Monte Carlo or bust on Vesper Bell and at 4-5 I had my biggest bet of the week. How big?. It’s a question  one never asks at the races. Suffice is it to say that after the race I found a quite corner of the racetrack where I had a serious talking to myself with the words idiot,greedy and undisciplined (all prefaced with suitable adjectives )  featuring with monotonous regularity in an increasingly one sided conversation.

Cross Appeal and Glam Gerry the undoubted highlights on the week with Mourad and that wretched Vesper Bell names I can scarcely bring myself to utter …

Donal