After the drama of the football championship on Saturday and Sunday, it’s the turn of the hurlers today with Waterford and Clare crossing swords at Semple Stadium.
MAURICE SHANAHAN, the teenage brother of long-serving Deise star Dan, makes his first championship start at corner forward and he looks a good bet to mark the occasion with the game’s first goal.
Shanahan played three times in the championship as a substitute last year and having been on duty for the county under-21s in recent weeks, looks capable of stepping up to become a key player for Waterford at senior level.
In racing, we’re looking at the Naas 5.40, a seven-furlong handicap.
SPIRIT OF XAAR has been an eyecatcher on his last two starts, both at Leopardstown, over a mile when just behind the talented pair Lord Kenmare and Bangalore Gold and subsequently over nine furlongs behind Charminamix.
In both these races, David Marnane’s gelding has shown a terrific burst of pace to lead two furlongs out before fading in the final furlong.
It looks like the drop back to a strongly run seven furlongs will be ideal. His form is very solid and off a competitive mark of 81 he looks a good bet today.
JOE’s Daily Double: Maurice Shanahan to score the first goal (Waterford v Clare @ 10/1) and Spirit of Xaar (5.40, Naas @ 6/1)
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