Charles Byrne Roscommon Gamble?

There have been a few big market movers in the past few weeks, especially with the changeable ground and the classic British weather, but there appears to be something bigger than just that going down tonight at Roscommon! Three big market moves have caught the eye:

6.40pm – War Anthem – 18/1 to 4/1 

7.10pm – Mr Smith – 14/1 to 3/1

8.10pm – Top Of The Town – 16/1 to 4/1

£5 returns £450 at current odds!

All three horses are trained by Charles Byrnes and ridden by Davy Russell.  Best known in recent years as the trainer of World Hurdle winner Solwhit and RSA winner Weapons Amnesty, Byrnes is not adverse to landing a punt or two along the way.  The 2015 Christmas money was landed by the stable at Tramore on the 12th of December when Rosie Alice and Cyprian Prince landed a double.  They had both been available at double figure odds in the morning but went off 10/3 and 11/8 respectively, punted down from early shows of 50/1 and 16/1, a coup not dissimilar to that which could be on the horizon today!

Gold Cup winning jockey, Davy Russell is the man tasked with guiding them home today, not unfamiliar territory as the go to jockey for the Byrnes yard for more than a decade.  What of today’s three involved in the punt though?  Let’s take a look at what is on paper for those in question this evening.

War Anthem

A lightly raced ex flat horse (rated 66 at his peak), he’s been beaten by huge distances in his two Maiden Hurdle starts for Charles Byrnes with RPRs of 40 and 51. Carries 7lb more than the favourite Echo Lady and hard to fancy on paper.

Mr Smith

Another performer under both codes, a Maiden after 16 starts. Rated 65 on the All Weather and 52 on the Flat, but just 83 over hurdles. Beaten big distances on all his Hurdle Starts so far, with a best effort coming over a similar trip at Limerick on Soft ground when “only” beaten 21 lengths. Was money about for him at Down Royal on the 17th March when well beaten in 5th.

Top Of The Town

Another handicap hurdle, and possibly the most likely of the 3 on paper. Lightly raced for an 8 year old, has one win from his 12 starts which came back in July 2015 over a similar trip at Downpatrick. Has been beaten big distances on his four starts since then with his handicap mark dropping back from 106 to 100, just 1lb above his last win.