You Sir can make a winning start over flights
The strapping six-year-old has been given plenty of time to mature by the shrewd Bowe family and, like all inmates from this quarter, is sure to know his job.
He has been rested since winning his second bumper at Cork on November 20. You Sir beat Court Storm and Lios Na Ratha on that occasion and the form is ordinary enough.
The manner in which he quickened in the closing stages was impressive, however, and You Sir is the nap selection.
The second section of the same contest can go to Colm Murphy’s Clew Bay Cove, another useful performer in bumpers.
He is taking time getting the hang of what’s required over jumps and was sloppy when going down narrowly to Justpourit at Navan. Clew Bay Cove is bound to come on plenty for that experience and this is a weak contest.
The decision to put a 7lbs claimer aboard Clear Riposte could swing the Grade Three Punchestown Juvenile Hurdle in favour of Willie Mullins’ charge.
He incurred a 9lbs penalty for taking the Grade Two Durkan New Homes Hurdle at Leopardstown, beating Artist’s Muse and Dreux comfortably.
Ivan De Vonass ran a nice sort of race when fourth to Major Vernon at Fairyhouse and gets the vote in the Kilteel Beginners Chase.
Feature event at Leopardstown tomorrow is the Pierse Handicap Hurdle and a Chinese puzzle would be easier to solve.
Victram, the booking of Timmy Murphy is a real bonus on this hold-up horse, is the hopeful choice. A combination of being in front a trifle early and the stiff uphill finish caught him out when third at Sandown behind Verasi in early December.
As well that was Victram’s first pop over jumps since Naas last March, so he has lots of scope for improvement.
The exciting Nickname very much merits the nap in the Paddy Fitzpatrick Memorial Novice Chase. Formerly a high-class staying hurdler when trained in France, he made a huge impression first time in this country, and first time over fences, at Leopardstown at Christmas.
Nickname jumped for fun, picked it up a long way from home and never showed the slightest sign of stopping when slamming Our Ben by ten lengths.
Camden Tanner has a leading chance in the Pierse Leopardstown Handicap Chase, having been beaten a length into second spot by Black Apalachi (rec. 3lbs) in the Paddy Power at Leopardstown.
There’s a real possibility King Johns Castle, who beat Snow Tern a length in a maiden at Naas last Sunday, has been leniently treated in the Pertemps Handicap Hurdle and Arthur Moore’s grey is fancied to score.
