Pizarro faces stern test at Navan
After Solerina had won at Punchestown last Sunday the indications were that she would run again this weekend, either at Navan or Cork.
The Cork contest is the Grade Three O’Connell Warehousing Stayers’ Novice Hurdle, but James Bowe’s mare wasn’t even entered for the race.
If Solerina does make a quick reappearance then it will, obviously, be against Pizarro and it would be tremendous to view such an informative contest so early in the campaign.
The pair met at Navan on November 17, when Pizarrro beat his rival by two lengths. They would renew rivalry on the exact same terms.
Solerina has a 6lbs penalty, because she’s won three times over flights. Pizarro has won his only race over hurdles, but also has a 6lbs penalty, on the basis it was a Grade Three.
Since that last meeting Solerina has undoubtedly improved in leaps and bounds. She won in a canter over two miles and an extended six furlongs at Thurles and kicked the smart Plenty Of Ice out of the way over two miles at Punchestown.
Pizarro, unbeaten in three races - two of them bumpers - is a really interesting horse. He made his debut at Naas in February.
Put in as the 5-4 favourite, he drifted right out to 5-2, but duly beat Colnel Rayburn a length and a half. Solerina was a remote third.
Pizarro then travelled to Cheltenham for the Festival Bumper and, with only victory in a moderate race to his credit, started a largely unconsidered 14-1 shot.
We now know that he won an exceptionally good contest that day, from Rhinestone Cowboy and Back In Front.
When Edward O’Grady’s gelding scored on his debut over hurdles at Navan last month he was again a big drifter, finding 4-1 from 5-2.
So, essentially, this hugely promsing talent has, basically, been a friend to the bookmakers.
And the reason, of course, is that he, apparently, shows little or nothing at home.
We’ll know for sure in the morning if the Bowe family are going to throw down the gauntlet to Pizarro.
I hope they do because this adorable mare just loves the game and will ask serious questions. If Pizarro can go by her again then Cheltenham, even in December, will be screaming at O’Grady’s charge.
Christy Roche’s Bannow Bay is clearly nearing peak fitness and has been given his first entry of the season in Sunday’s Giltspur Scientific Hurdle at Navan.
Whether Roche will be anxious to allow him take on a flying Limestone Lad remains to be seen.
We haven’t seen Bannow Bay since he went under to Baracouda at Cheltenham in March. Anyway, the handicapper rates him 1lb superior to Limestone Lad right now.
When Jurado Expresss turned in a brilliant display to win over fences on his debut at Thurles a week ago his trainer, Arthur Moore, nominated a winners of one at Cork for him next.
We all assumed he would be meeting Beef Or Salmon, but that is far from certain. Michael Hourigan also has his star in the Grade Three O’Connell Transport Hilly Way Chase at Cork.
Hourigan says the horse definitely runs at Cork, but he won’t be making up his mind as to which race until Friday morning.
From the public’s point of view it won’t matter. Following Beef Or Salmon’s excellent start over fences, in the Morris Oil at Clonmel, it will be just nice to see him in action again.
The trainer currently views his charge as an Arkle horse and both Cork events are over two miles, so that’s ideal.
The novice race would certainly appear the easier option, although it has the makings of a smart event. Besides Jurado Express, among the 29 entries are Say Again, runner-up on his debut over fences and winner of the Galway Hurdle, and One Night Out.
In the Grade Three Beef Or Salmon would be taking on some very experienced horses, although that mightn’t worry him too much the way he slammed Sackville and others at Clonmel. Nevertheless, this could be a stiff test. Likely rivals include Fadoudal Du Cochet and Copernicus, conqueror of Native Upmanship at Naas.
