Bowe leaning towards Naas with Solerina
Michael Bowe, who does all the work with the mare, said yesterday: “I would say it is 50-50 whether she will go to Leopardstown or head for the Bank Of Ireland Hurdle at Naas on Saturday.’’
The Naas race would be a much easier assignment for the seven-year-old. The two miles and three furlongs would be ideal, rather than the two miles of the AIG, against far superior opposition.
Solerina clearly found the minimum trip, on the inside track, far too short when only fourth behind Golden Cross in the Festival Hurdle at Leopardstown at Christmas.
“I am anxious for her to get back on the winning trail’’, said Bowe. “I don’t want to be breaking her heart and leading them to the last again. She’s a smaller replica of Limestone Lad!
“We thought we had the best mare in the country going to Leopardstown, but obviously we don’t! Our confidence was lowered.
“There’s no doubt she needs further than two miles and that Naas race has been very lucky for us in the past. Of course there’s a big difference in the prizemoney, but who am I to be talking about money.’’
The AIG is worth over €90,000 to the winner, while the Naas contest pales by comparison, with €13,000 to the victor.
“We will make our minds up at five minutes to ten on Friday morning’’, concluded Bowe.
The first three in the Festival Hurdle respectively, shock winner, Golden Cross, Jessica Harrington’s Spirit Leader and Noel Chance’s Flame Creek, are all set to renew rivalry in the AIG.
Spirit Leader is, arguably, the most interesting. She went from strength to strength last season and clearly hinted at even better to come last time.
Indeed, Cashmans yesterday installed her as their market leader. They bet 5-2 Spirit Leader, 100-30 Davenport Milenium, 7-2 Solerina, 5-1 Flame Creek, 6-1 Golden Cross, 10-1 Foreman, 20-1 Georges Girl, 33-1 Fota Island, Stage Affair.
Willie Mullins, like Michael Bowe, will delay a final decision regarding Davenport Milenium’s participation. The Bishop Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham on Saturday is a possible alternative.
Davenport Milenium ran a cracker at Cheltenham in the middle of December when a length second to Rigmarole in the Tote Bula Hurdle.
“I am going to wait as a long as I can before deciding’’, reported Mullins. “I would like to stay at home, it’s a nice prize and the weather forecast for the week is better than I thought it might be. More experience of Cheltenham, however, is the draw of the Cleeve Hurdle.’’
Meanwhile, Tom Taaffe reported it is all guns blazing for his high-class Kicking King, 7-4 favourite with Cashmans, for Sunday’s Grade One Baileys’ Arkle Cup at Leopardstown, on the way to possible glory in the Arkle Trophy at the Festival.
The son of Old Vic, runner-up to Back In Front in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham in March, looked to have the Denny Gold Medal Novice 'Chase in safe keeping at Leopardstown when crashing out at the second last.
His confidence was fully restored at Punchestown earlier this month, however, when he beat moderate rivals by a distance.
“I was delighted with the way he jumped and moved at Punchestown’’, said Taaffe. “I have had no problems with him and he will travel on Sunday in the same form as he was at both Leopardstown and Punchestown. He is a happy horse’’
Taaffe landed many big races as a jockey, but never managed a winner at the Cheltenham Festival and also has yet to taste success there as a trainer.
“Getting a winner at Cheltenham is what this game is all about’’, said Taaffe. “You work from one end of the year to the other for that.’’
Cashmans bet: 7-4 Kicking King, 11-4 Central House, Direct Bearing, 13-2 Mossy Green, 10-1 Commonchero, Hi Cloy, 20-1 Goss, Colca Canyon, 33-1 Ballayamber 50-1 Emperors Guest.
Willie Mullins confirmed that Alexander Banquet will carry top weight of 12-0 in Thursday’s Goulding Thyestes Handicap 'Chase at Gowran Park.
“I will see how he works in the morning, but that’s the plan at the moment’’, said Mullins. “I just have to get runs into him. He is a very hard horse to get fit and has always been the same.’’
The presence of Alexander Banquet would mean no rise in the weights and see Mullins’ other possibilites, Rule Supreme (10-13) and Hedgehunter (10-2), staying on their current marks. “I could run one, or both, with Alexander Banquet’’, said Mullins.
The Carlow handler’s Sadlers Wings, who created a big impression on his debut over jumps when cruising to a seven lengths victory at Punchestown last month, has been given an entry in the Golden Cygnet Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown.
Commented Mullins: “It all depends on how he works this week. He disappointed me in a gallop last week and I won’t be in any rush. If I get just one run into him before Cheltenham that will be fine.’’
