Improving Ruby looks set to rock
It does look a competitive contest, but Rock On Ruby is improving rapidly and well capable of at least going close.
He won three bumpers and then made a smashing debut over flights at Newbury, where he slammed Megastar by six lengths.
What I really like about him is his attitude and he does have a great way of doing things. Rock On Ruby has Festival pretensions, so his Cheltenham credentials are very much on the line now.
Paul runs Indian Daudaie in the first, a juvenile hurdle, but I must confess to not having any inside track on him.
I know he won at Auteuil and then went back to that track to finish second in a Grade 1, but other than that I’m afraid I’m in the dark.
Paul has booked Tony McCoy for Noland in a handicap chase and it will be interesting to see how much ability the ten-year-old retains.
He’s had his problems, but when given a spin on the all-weather at Kempton some weeks ago the engine certainly seemed more than intact!
He does have top weight to carry here, but is talented and we feel could well be a Ryanair horse for Cheltenham.
There are only six in the Grade 2 Argento Chase and Paul sets a real poser by saddling half of the field. I think The Tother One has to improve to beat Taranis and Neptune Collonges.
Taranis won this a year ago, but has been struggling a bit this season and was well beaten when falling two out at Cheltenham last time.
I’d rather be with Neptune Collonges, even though you could say he made no show at Cheltenham on his latest appearance.
But Neptune missed the break and could never get into a rhythm. He is likely to come on a bundle for the run and loves everything about Cheltenham.
Paul has a couple of runners in the Cleeve Hurdle, Gwanakao and Organisateur, but you’d imagine they will have to show improvement to deliver.
Paul has a number of live possibilites at Doncaster and the two I fancy the most are Robinson Collonges and Fistral Beach.
Looking at Fairyhouse today, I thought Killultagh Queen, in the beginners chase, was probably Willie Mullins’ best chance of a winner.
She jumped really well first time over fences at Cork, before over-jumping at the third last and sending David Casey out of the side door. She is a good mare and, if coming to hand quicker this season, would surely have been in the line-up against For Bill at Thurles on Thursday.
Willie’s Tusa Eire has a life in the bumper. He should come on plenty for finishing second at Naas on his debut and, though no star, this does not appear to be the hottest of races.
The main attraction at Punchestown tomorrow is the Grade 2 Tied Cottage Chase and it is hard enough to oppose Big Zeb, who is, after all, the reigning two-mile champion chaser.
He always beats Golden Silver and, in turn, Golden Silver always beats Scotsirish. Golden Silver may not cope with Big Zeb yet again, but don’t be surprised if he manages to finish in front of Sizing Europe.
Willie trains Golden Silver and, whatever the fate of that horse, is unlikely to leave the track empty-handed. Gagewell Flyer should win the Grade 2 novice hurdle for him.
He is going forward rapidly and was impressive at both Navan and Naas, on his only two runs over hurdles so far.
The ex-Fench horse, Raptor, is worth a second glance in the 22-runner maiden hurdle, even if his form in his native country is less than inspiring.
Raptor is, however, a fine big grey horse, who has schooled well, and is definitely a lot better than his form figures currently reveal.
Willie runs Celtic Folklore in the bumper and he made no impact at all on his only outing in a point-to-point. But I saw him in a schooling bumper at Thurles and he is well capable of winning.
