Arvika can make it four from four over fences at Punchestown
It was disappointing, because the more than useful Melodic Rendzvous was also likely to be in the field and that would have been very informative. Un de Sceaux actually went across and, I gather, travelled really well. Also, of course, he would have revelled in the testing conditions.
Last week we referred to the fact that certain courses try to race all the year round and one of them is Sandown.
They have to use the same straight for flat and hurdle racing and that requires watering in the summer. The chase course is never watered and it is hardly a coincidence they are attempting hold a programme today consisting of an all chase card.
I’m not trying to say that watering is the reason the hurdles have been lost, but you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to work out it has to be an issue all the same.
Instead of hopping on a plane, I will slip along to Fairyhouse as an alternative. I start with Greatness for Tony Martin in a maiden hurdle. Let’s just say he has yet to show any greatness! He made no show at Thurles last time, although Tony did expect a better showing. He has to step up a lot on what he has done to have a life now.
I had a choice between two of Willie Mullins’, Suntiep and Touch The Eden, in a beginners chase and have gone with the former. Suntiep did perform moderately on his seasonal debut when fifth to My Murphy on this track, but I’d imagine will be a lot sharper on this occasion and plenty of improvement should be forthcoming.
He has shown in the past that he does stay and the ground will not be a problem. This three miles and a furlong will take some getting and should be right into his barrow.
I rode Touch The Eden at Punchestown last time and he was no match for Rogue Angel. He got very tired on the ground and just trotted up the straight. Touch The Eden wants a better surface.
I finish my afternoon on Hold Em Cowboy for Tony Martin in a handicap chase. He won nicely at Fairyhouse for Paul Carberry, but went up 10lbs and that’s no help.
The bottom line is Hold Em Cowboy has to carry top weight, in what looks a fiercely competive 18-runner affair.
I sit out the first at Punchestown tomorrow and then get going abaord Wicklow Brave in a novice hurdle for Willie Mullins.
He won three bumpers and then took his maiden hurdle with lots in hand at Cork. That was an ordinary contest at Cork, but what was encouraging was the manner in which he handled the ground.
We are a little in the dark at Willie’s about Wicklow Brave, we just don’t know how good he is. But if he is to have pretensions to be winning at the spring festivals then he’d want to be winning this.
Willie runs three in the qualifier for the Pertemps handicap hurdle and I’m on Clonard Lad. I’ve discarded Un Beau Roman, who got very tired at Leopardstown. I couldn’t do the weight on Up The Beat, but it is a big ask anyway to think he could win after an absence of 689 days.
In contrast Clonard Lad will arrive in good shape. I will more than likely put up 2lbs overweight, which isn’t much of a concern.
He was beaten into second by The Game Changer at Punchestown, but that was over two miles and he is crying out for three.
Clonard Lad doesn’t want ground as heavy as it is going to be, but I’ll be disappointed if he doesn’t go close all of the same.
Then it is arguably my best ride of the weekend, Arvika Ligeonniere, in a Grade 2 chase. This is a good little race, with the ratings revealing there isn’t much between all four runners.
Arvika could only manage third to Benefficient and Hidden Cyclone at Leopardstown at Christmas, when I didn’t make enough use of him.
I sat in to get him to jump straight, travelling left-handed, and he failed to quicken appreciably in the straight.
This fellow is not a hold-up horse, he’s a galloper. But Special Tiara and Rathlin like to bowl along as well, so that’s going to make it interesting.
That said, Arvika is three from three over fences at Punchestown, he also won over hurdles there, and is in great form.
Willie throws three darts at the board in the Grand National trial, Popcorn, Uncle Junior and Are Ya Right Chief. I’m on Popcorn, who ran no sort of race on his return from a break at Navan. He should have been buzzy and keen, but was the exact opposite. I’d say if Willie gets any of the three into the first three he will be more than satisfied.
I have to end with the mighty Hurricane Fly. Given how badly he worked on the lead in to the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown last Sunday, I was more than happy with his display.
For instance had he jumped the final flight as well as Our Conor he would have won far more comfortably. I’m well aware the proximity of Captain Cee Bee does little for the form of the race.
But Captain Cee Bee had his own way in front and I didn’t take a lot of notice of him, basically concentrating on the two who were behind me.
There hasn’t been a bother on Hurricane Fly this week, he looks terrific and has been cantering away.
