Rely on Rose for quick follow up
I could make a case for a dozen runners, that’s how open a contest I feel it is. I partner Hoo La Baloo for Paul Nicholls and must confess to being far more hopeful than confident he will prove capable of winning.
I went across to England recently to ride him at Market Rasen and he ran well to be beaten into second by Iron Man. I’m as sure as I can be that he will at least beat Iron Man now, over this stiffer track and with a 9lbs pull.
I have discarded Bothar Na and, as I said yesterday, could very easily be on the wrong one. What I can tell you is that Bothar Na is absolutely flying on Willie Mullins’ gallops.
I feel that Cool Running and Knight Legend will both struggle to come up the hill. Yes Sir is a very good horse going left-handed. But he jumps and hangs left and could well end up in the nearby Digital factory! Ursumman ran a blinder to finish fourth last year and, I reckon, has been minded for this year’s race ever since. One run on the level at Leopardstown recently will have left him spot-on.
Pacolet is an improving horse and you’d imagine will relish the two miles and six, while On The Net is very consistent, but doesn’t actually win too often.
The horse who could be a blot on the handicap is Jimmy Mangan’s Conna Castle, who has a touch of class. I know the eight-year-old well, having ridden him a couple of times. The worry is that he can get a bit hot before his races and can be excitable. Jimmy, his staff and Davy Russell, given the massive crowd, will do well to get him to the start nice and calm.
I couldn’t recommend having a bet to anyone. My best advice is to simply sit back and enjoy the spectacle.
I partner Imperial Rose for Tony Martin in the William Hill In Ireland Novice Hurdle and wouldn’t swap her for anything. I won on the mare at Limerick just six days ago. Tony says she’s tough, came out of the race in great form and that’s why she turns out again so quickly.
We won nine lengths at Limerick, but it’s misleading, because ill-fated Master Ofthe Chase was upsides when falling at the last.
I think Imperial Rose would have scored in any case, but doubt it would have been much with half a length.
Dreamy Gent is the horse that worries me the most. He beat me on Irish Invader at Wexford, when given a great drive by Robert Power.
My only other ride of the day is The Patriarch Game in the williamhill.ie Handicap Hurdle. He’s hard enough to fancy, but perhaps this will be more his game, after failing to take a maiden.
I feel, however, Tony Martin holds the key to this with Leg Spinner. He’s more than useful and was good enough to win on the flat at Royal Ascot, when it was run at York.
The last time he ran over hurdles, I was aboard when he did the business at Perth. He had plenty in hand that day and, though paying the price, might still be a little ahead of the handicapper.
Monday was a bit of a disaster. I rode two over flights, Lisselan Eagle and She’s Supersonic. Lisselan Eagle ran very flat and I was in the wrong place at all stages on She’s Supersonic.
Then to make matters worse, I broke a tooth and spent yesterday morning at the dentist. Watching Prison Break on television was my highlight of the opening day.
But then along came Corrick Bridge to win the first last night and, suddenly, the world was a brighter place!
