Ruby Walsh: Allaho has questions to answer but so too do his King George rivals
CHRISTMAS CRACKER? Allaho didn't impress everyone on his comeback in the Clonmel Oil Chase last month but he remains a worthy favourite for the King George at Kempton. Picture: Healy Racing
St Stephen's Day is the busiest day of the year in horse racing across Ireland and Great Britain. From Down Royal kicking off the action at 11.40am to Wolverhampton finishing it at 5.35pm, 78 races will have taken place. Seventy-eight sets of connections will be happy, and 665 sets won't be winners, although many may still be happy.
I thought when I started that sum, it would be less, and an average field size of 9.5 runners dresses up a lot of Tuesday's action. But I am going to be honest, and you should be, too: Pick three meetings from all that will happen and concentrate on those.
By all means, keep an eye on everything else, but if you are having a St Stephen's Day flutter, don't fall into the trap of thinking you can keep on top of it all. If you can, you are some sort of logistical and mathematical genius because I have a headache just thinking about it.
For me, Leopardstown, Limerick, and Kempton will be the focus, though I have already broken my own advice because Aintree will get a look in, too.
First up for a tip, though, is the 12.05pm race at Limerick, where Willie sends Bunting for the three-year-old maiden hurdle. This new French recruit should handle conditions, but his price might mean he needs to be doubled with something else and so, at 12.35pm in Leopardstown, Mirazur West is the ideal candidate. He was very impressive on his sole bumper start last year and has schooled well enough to suggest he can collect first-time over hurdles, too.
If odds-on shots are not your cup of tea and you want a little more from your investment, add Cantico, at 3.30pm in Leopardstown, to make it a treble and Jolie Coeur Allen at 12.58pm in Limerick for the fourfold. That's not exactly an exotic bet, but it is the type that bookmakers love because picking one winner is hard enough without trying to find the right four to put in one bet!
As for the quality races, well, the defection of Inthepocket from the Racing Post Novice Chase at Leopardstown should make life easier for Facile Vega. Last week, JP McManus forked out the supplementary entry fee for his charge, only for Henry De Bromhead's exciting novice to pick up an injury. It is a blow for them and makes this a straightforward task for Willie Mullins’ charge.
The other graded race at Leopardstown is the juvenile hurdle, at 1.10pm, in which Nurburgring has to give weight to all his rivals. Willie Mullins runs five, and Kargese could be the pick of those, but Gordon Elliott’s Mighty Bandit was very impressive on his debut, at Punchestown, and could be hard to beat. Besides those mentioned at the Foxrock venue, Belgoprince at 1.45pm, and The Folkes Tiara, at 2.55pm, might be worth a look.
Just across the Irish Sea, Aintree races on St Stephen’s Day for the first time, and its Formby Novice Hurdle at 1.05pm is worth a little look. Gordon has sent recent Fairyhouse winner Farren Glory, but the outsider of the field, Cannock Park, caught the eye of a colleague when winning at Cheltenham, and she likes him for this. On Christmas Eve, he was 25-1, so happy St Stephen’s Day if he collects.
Down countless motorways and over to Kempton Park, you will find the centrepiece of today's action. Thankfully, I will be heading straight into Heathrow and not via the scenic route, and Paul Townend will join me on the 7.40pm flight out of Dublin Airport.
He, of course, is going to ride Allaho in the King George, and this dual Ryanair Chase winner has looked tailor-made for this race for some time. Unfortunately, he missed out last year because of injury, and he probably didn't impress many when winning on his comeback at Clonmel.
That said, how impressive has his opposition been this year? Bravemansgame faltered at Haydock, Shishkin refused to race at Ascot, Hewick faded out of the screen at Galway, The Real Whacker pulled up in the Paddy Power, and Frodon is on a lap of honour.
Break that down into cold, hard facts, and Allaho has as good a chance as anything, and Paul Townend has left Facile Vega for Patrick Mullins to ride in Dublin. I am reading between the lines and hoping two plus two equals four.
Constitution Hill should have a nice day out and collect a second Christmas Hurdle at 1.55pm, but the French could make it a European day in London by winning the 1.20pm with Il Est Francais. He might have an English trainer, but we have never been allowed to claim Jonjo O’Neill's victories as Irish trained, only that they are trained by an Irishman.
Limerick has moved its feature races around this year so that the Grade One Faugheen Novice Chase will take place on Thursday, and today's highlight is the staying novice hurdle, in which Willie has the favourite, Loughglynn. He is a tough horse, but this is usually a race for the more hardened campaigners, and Gordon Elliott's pair, Search For Glory and Stellar Story, fit the bill. Jockey bookings suggest Search For Glory, but I prefer Stellar Story.
All of Wednesday's racing has been declared since Saturday morning, too, and in a brief flick through tomorrow's action, here are a few to watch.
Leopardstown first. 12.05pm: Ethical Diamond seems to do things well at home. 12.35pm: Marine Nationale. Enough said. 1.10pm: Dinoblue is still improving. 1.45pm: Daddy Long Legs is a brave call to beat Down Memory Lane, but it is worth trying. 2.20pm: Conyers Hill. Track will suit his running style. 3.00pmPanda Boy: This has been his big aim all year. 3.35pm: Wait for Thursday.
Limerick: 12.19pm: Judicieuse Allen should be suited by the trip. 1.27pm: Harmonya Maker. Even going the wrong way won’t stop her here. 2.02pm: Noble Yeats. Age and experience always win this race.
Enjoy the first two days, but remember, day three is an absolute belter. Roll on the Savills Chase, in which Galopin Des Champs, Gerri Colombe, Fastorslow, Envoi Allen, A Plus Tard, Conflated, and Appreciate It are all set to line up. A real Christmas present!
