Sublimity delights in Leopardstown gallop
John Carr’s lightly-raced gelding sprung a 16-1 surprise in the 2007 renewal, but is no bigger than 5s to retain his crown in this year’s Smurfit Kappa-sponsored two-miler.
Not seen since down the field at Cheltenham in December, Sublimity did all that was asked of him in a one-mile-six-furlong spin with two stablemates to leave Carr more than satisfied.
He said: “It went very well and I could not be happier with the way he worked today, he sprinted away from them in the straight.”
Philip Carberry enjoyed his finest moment when booting the eight-year-old home 12 months ago and is unsurprisingly relishing the chance to get back in the saddle on Tuesday week.
Carberry added: “He quickened nicely in the straight and felt very good. In fact, he felt as good as I have ever felt him.”
Last year’s third, Afsoun, will be back for another crack after delighting big-race partner Mick Fitzgerald when outpointing Straw Bear at Sandown in early February.
Fitzgerald said: “I said last year after I rode him that this horse wanted a trip.
“My mind hasn’t changed on that, I think the horse will stay three miles in time but at the moment he’s just showing too much pace early on in his races.”
Fitzgerald believes Afsoun’s undoubted stamina and battling attitude means he must not be underestimated in the Champion.
“He jumps very slick and he stays two miles very well, which is what you need around Cheltenham,” he said.
“You get an awful lot of horses that arrive there with a chance at the last, but it’s those that are in front at the end that count.
“For me, he’s just a really good, solid, staying two-miler and the biggest problem we’ve got with Afsoun is the occasion.
“He’s ruined his chance a couple of times before but last time at Sandown he was very relaxed and very quiet and he showed his true form that day.
“That sort of form is good enough to get placed in a Champion and I’m not saying he’s going to win, but he will go there with a live each-way chance.”
The Nicky Henderson-trained Afsoun is set to be joined by stablemate Punjabi, who ran a huge race under a big weight to finish second to Wingman at Newbury last time.
“Punjabi runs and it was a very good run of his in the totesport Trophy. The handicapper was impressed and put him up 6lb for that,” Fitzgerald continued.
“He’s a strong five-year-old and he will travel very well into the race, it’s just a case of whether he’ll be good enough when they get to the last.
“He’s no back number and ground conditions could make the difference. If it’s good or quicker it will suit Punjabi.”
One Cheltenham regular set to miss out is the Dessie Hughes-trained Hardy Eustace.
The dual Champion Hurdle winner, who also won a Royal & SunAlliance Novices’ Hurdle in his youth, will instead tackle the Ladbrokes World Hurdle on Thursday week.
“I discussed it with the owner yesterday after he did a bit of work after racing at Leopardstown and we decided we’d let him take his chance in the stayers’ (World Hurdle),” Hughes said.
“The Champion looked another option at the time, but he can’t be as quick as he used to be so this one should just suit him better.”
