Improving Wheels Up poised to go in again
Christy Roche’s seven-year-old has future chaser written all over him, but is no mug at this game either.
At Fairyhouse last month he finished three lengths second to Fiveforthree. Wheels Up was greatly flattered then and we shouldn’t read too much into a far sharper Fiveforthreee winning the Royal and SunAlliance Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenhan last week.
Nevertheless, it was a reasonable performance on the part of the selection and he went on to build on that at Clonmel subsequently.
Wheels Up went off a long odds-on shot then and justified the confidence with a smooth ten lengths defeat of Ballydungmanor.
The form got a timely boost when Ballydungmanor won a moderate event easily at Navan on Sunday.
Tony Martin’s Mourne Rambler is the biggest danger. He scored with any amount in hand when taking his maiden at Punchestown, although having little to beat.
The frustrating Arbor Supreme is not to be entirely trusted, but has been found good opportunity in the Craddoxtown Beginners Chase.
He was disappointing when a remote fourth behind Well Run in the Ulster National at Down Royal, but did better prior to that when runner-up to Chelsea Harbour at Punchestown.
Those races were run over three and a half miles and dropping down both in trip and class could hold the key.
The Rall, who has produced two solid efforts behind Oscar Lyons at Leopardstown and Chasing Cars at Fairyhouse, might provide the answer to the INH Stallion Owners’ EBF Maiden Hurdle.
