Solwhit blow leaves Champion wide open
This really was the cruellest of blows to Charles Byrnes, Davy Russell and the horse’s owners and, of course, to those sitting on tasty prices ante-post about him for the Champion Hurdle.
Many pundits think this is a wide-open Champion Hurdle and the fact that the layers were quite content to go 4-1 the field supported such a theory.
Personally, I wasn’t on that wavelength at all and was a massive supporter of Solwhit. He was definitely set to be the selection from this source and I was particularly comfortable with that.
Now, it really is wide open, assuming Solwhit doesn’t make it. And, even if given the green light, that comfortable feeling would certainly no longer be present. You simply have to tick all the boxes at this Festival.
Anyway, let’s see where we might just be heading for the entire meeting.
It will all start with Dunguib in Tuesday’s opener, the Spinal Research Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.
There’s only one word to describe Dunguib, awesome. I watched all his races over hurdles again at the weekend and his ability to do half-speed, next to good horses, is quite staggering.
His most recent form received a big boost at Naas on Sunday when Whodoyouthink streaked away with a novice hurdle.
When Dunguib toyed with the opposition at Leopardstown, in the Grade 1 Deloitte Hurdle, he had Whodoyouthink eighteen and a half lengths behind in fourth spot.
Dunguib is an absolute machine and the only way will get beaten is if his jumping lets him down.
But he is going to be a desperately short price and here’s one who may well take a chance with Blackstairmountain. You would have to like what he did first time up over hurdles at Punchestown and is worth a little each-way. Paddy Power is the place to go, of course, and we’ll get our money back if, as expected, Dunguib comes sailing by in the closing stages.
The Arkle promises one of the races of the meeting and we’re going to need more time before drawing final conclusions.
Choosing between Captain Cee Bee, Somersby, Sizing Europe, Riverside Theatre and Sports Line is not easy.
Rite Of Passage continues to be a tight 7-2 shot for the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle and, speaking to Dermot Weld this week, even he is a bit surprised at that.
It seems to me there are numerous dangers and I cannot accept that Rite Of Passage will be as short on the day!
There appears to be growing opposition to Master Minded for the two-mile Champion Chase, but I’m at a loss to know why.
The word is that certain bookmakers and exchange players fancy laying him big-time, so evens is more than a possibility.
Puzzling, because Master Minded really did appear back to his imperious best on his most recent appearance at Newbury.
The Weatherbys’ Champion Bumper is a total minefield, while Poquelin, with the ground coming right, is the one to beat in the Ryanair Chase.
Most seem to be of the opinion Big Buck’s, last year’s winner, is a good thing for the Ladbrokes World Hurdle.
I suppose he is, but if going off as short as current offers of 8-13 and 4-7, then I, for one wouldn’t sleep if I didn’t oppose him.
I’m bursting to back Fionnegas, runner-up behind the mighty Dunguib in the Deloitte at Leopardstown and available this week as high as 16-1, in the Albert Barlett Novices’ Hurdle.
The indications now from Ruby Walsh are that he is likely to ride him and that’s obviously encouraging.
Oh, and the Gold Cup? It’s virtually impossible to oppose Kauto Star, with Denman under a cloud and the ground turning against him.
Cooldine is capable of a major effort and that 4-1 which was on offer, without the big two, is looking better value by the minute. You would be lucky to scramble 5-2 at this stage.
