Swerve the Grand National riddle and row in behind Hardy Eustace
Yeah, yeah, I know the Grand National is on as well and that it’s a terrific spectacle and whatever you’re having yourself.
But asking a punter who takes this game seriously to go betting on the National is a bit like telling a half-decent poker player to enjoy a night playing bingo.
Actually, I knew someone who loved his bingo, who once told me he was getting good at it! But we digress.
That Aintree Hurdle has the makings of a cracker, even if Cheltenham Ladbrokes’ World Hurdle hero My Way de Solzen gives the contest a miss and runs this afternoon instead.
It is set to bring together four live possibilities from Ireland, Hardy Eustace, El Eile, Sky’s The Limit and Asian Maze.
I will have little hesitation rowing in with Hardy Eustace, on the basis he ran an absolute blinder in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Admittedly, you could argue that finishing a length and three and a half lengths third to Brave Inca and Macs Joy was a fair way below his best.
No argument there. But we have to take into consideration the fact Hardy Eustace arrived at the Festival on the back of a dismal effort behind Brave Inca in the AIG Europe Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown at the end of January.
He very much had an interrupted preparation and, in the circumstances, could hardly have performed any better, after getting a quite brilliant ride from Conor O’Dwyer.
There is no evidence Dessie Hughes’ charge has begun to deteriorate and at nine has a lot of life left in him yet.
Sky’s The Limit produced a stunning display at Cheltenham to defy 11-12 in the Coral Cup. The Irish handicapper, Noel O’Brien, now has him within 5lbs of Hardy Eustace.
I have some difficulty accepting they are that closely matched. After all Hardy Eustace has two Champion Hurdle victories and a SunAlliance Novices’ Hurdle successs under his belt, while Sky’s The Limit’s main claim to fame is winning a handicap, even if was competitive.
Al Eile, fourth in this year’s Champion Hurdle and rated just 4lbs off Hardy Eustace, won the Aintree Hurdle a year ago and Asian Maze, a faller in the Champion Hurdle at the fourth, gets a tasty 7lbs from the rest.
Essentially, what O’Brien is telling us is that Hardy Eustace has only a little to spare approaching his latest test.
A minor worry is that he ran deplorably three years ago at Aintree, finishing a tailed-off fifth behind Iris’s Gift over an extended three miles.
That’s too flimsy, though, to put us off and I still think he’s a better wager than attempting to solve the National riddle.
Cashmans have opened a book on the race and they bet: 2-1 Hardy Eustace, 7-2 Al Eile, 5-1 Asian Maze, Sky’s The limit, 12-1 bar.
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I’M eagerly looking forward to seeing Conna Castle running in tomorrow’s Grade Two John Smith’s Imagine Appeal Top Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree.
The former winning pointer has struck form of late with a vengeance, scoring cosily at Punchestown and then indicating he was a horse with a massive future when bolting in by 20 lengths at Naas last time.
This could well be his biggest test to date, however, with the possibility of taking on Straw Bear and Desert Quest.
Straw Bear was only grabbed late by Noland in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham and Desert Quest took the County Hurdle with a lot in hand.
Anyway, it will be great to see Jimmy Mangan back at Aintree with a high-class horse. Those of us who think the seven-year-old could develop into a live Arkle Trophy candidate will be looking for a big run.
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IT was somewhat surprising to note that Ted Walsh’s Southern Vic wasn’t included in the recently published 72 entries for the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse on Monday, April 17.
Fears all wasn’t well with the imposing gelding were, however, allayed by Walsh yesterday. He said that neither Conor O’Dwyer, who rode Southern Vic when a disappointing fifth to The Railway Man at Leopardstown, or Ruby Walsh, who was on board when he scored easily at Navan on his latest appearance, were entirely happy with the horse.
Basically, there is nothing wrong with Southen Vic, but he has been given a little break and could return at Punchestown for the €100,000 betfair.com Novice Handicap Chase on Friday, April 28.
