Progressive Snowy Morning gets nod in tricky Hennessy
Nevertheless, it still has the making of a cracking race, although finding the winner will not be easy. It will be a surprise should either Rule Supreme or Hedgehunter prove good enough, but the other six all have a life. The nod falls on the lowest rated horse in the contest, Snowy Morning, who has no less than 24lbs to find with Beef Or Salmon.
But, as Sizing Europe showed at this track two weeks ago in the AIG Euope Champion Hurdle, bridging what appears to be an insurmountable gap is far from impossible for a young horse rapidly on the upgrade.
The selection showed at Cheltenham back in March he may be capable of holding his own with the big boys, finishing a creditable second to Denman in the SunAlliance Novices Chase.
He could well have improved significantly over the past couple of months, on the evidence of two smooth successes over flights.
Beef Or Salmon is far from a back number, having again shown his liking for Leopardstown when fourth to Denman in the Lexus Chase, while The Listener could get his own way in front and that could play to his strengths.
Most pundits seem to think Nickname will stay, but I harbour doubts, while Turko is apparently strongly fancied by Paul Nicholls.
A wind operation has obviously done him no harm and he slammed Glasker Mill to the tune of nine lengths at Sandown in early December. But whether that form amounts to anything remains to be seen.
The tough front-running Whatuthink is the nap choice in the Deloitte Novice Hurdle. The trip, two miles, and the surface, on the good side, were against him when slamming Forpadydeplasterer and Cork All Star at Leopardstown at Christmas.
Stepping up another two furlongs and on softer ground, there seems no logical reason why the placings should be reversed.
The exciting J’y Vole, another who likes to bowl along, will take plenty of catching in the Dr P J Moriarty Novice Chase.
She won nicely at Cork and then bolted in subsequently at Gowran Park. It will take a decent performance on the part of one of her six rivals to concede the mare a whopping 15lbs.
At Naas today, Arthur Moore’s Stewarts House is fancied to land the nap in the 25-runner Cheltenham Trial Sunday 24th February Maiden Hurdle.
He ran a smashing race at Leopardstown, close third to Oscar Lyons and The Rall, and the likely heavy ground and testing track are just what’s required.
A further massive field are set to face the starter in the opening Carvery Restaurant At Naas Maiden Hurdle, but whatever beats Peplum will surely win!
He was set to record a clear-cut victory at Leopardstown when falling at the final flight, race won by Taravada.
Financial Reward, who was a classy type of hurdler, has reportedly schooled well and can make a winning debut over fences in the Property Partners’ Beginners Chase.
The mud-loving Our Matti, impressive when scoring at Navan, gets the nod in the Bumper.
