Heavy ground no problem for Sesenta
I know Galway is the biggest Festival in the country, offering seven magical days both on and off the track.
But for most of us professionals within the National Hunt scene, Listowel is actually more important.
Besides big pots like the Kerry National and the Lartigue Hurdle, Listowel caters for plenty of maiden hurdles and beginners chases and they are vital.
For myself, it is a bit of a low-key start and I begin with just two rides, in the most competitive contests of the afternoon, the handicap hurdles.
Willie Mullins runs three in the Lartigue Hurdle, Sesenta, Dani California and Cru. Obviously, I know them well and am on Sesenta, which I would expect to emerge at least the best of Willie’s.
She’s in really good order right now and will handle the expected heavy ground, which is a big plus.
Willie has given the mare a couple of spins on the flat of late, so there are no doubts about her fitness.
She ran a cracker to finish second at Galway and then made no mistake with a smooth success at Ballinrobe.
I was delighted when Jessica Harrington left top weight, Personal Column, in the race yesterday morning.
That meant there was no rise in the weights and Sesenta remained on 11-2. She’s tiny, with a big heart, and that’s about as much as you would want her to be carrying.
There are loads of runners and loads of dangers, hardly surprising given that the prize money is very decent.
But Sesenta will strip in the form of her life and, while it would be ridiculous to be too dogmatic regarding her prospects, I would not get off her for anything else in the contest.
My other mount is Vale Of Avocia, who has to hump top weight in the mares handicap hurdle.
She had a spin round behind Heavenly Blues at Cork and trainer, Willie Codd, tells me has come on nicely for that.
It looks a weak enough heat, but if she was to finish in the first three I’d say that would be a good effort!
I’m no great expert on the way bookmakers might price up a race, but you’d imagine Noel Meade’s El Fontan will be favourite in the three-year-old hurdle.
If that’s the case then David Marnane’s Hampstead Heath could be value against him. I rode the second when that fellow won at Tramore and I was impressed.
The biggie of the week, of course, is tomorrow’s Guinness Kerry National and, right now, it looks as if I might partner Davenport Democrat.
Basically, much depends on whether Davy Fitzgerald decides to run Mister Top Notch or not. Mister Top Notch is at the top of the handicap on 11-10.
Davenport Democrat is next, but a whopping 16lbs below him on 10-8. If Mister Top Notch comes out then I’m not so sure Willie Mullins will even run Davenport.
Between 9.30 and 10.00 this morning is going to be mighty interesting, as we scramble round making final decisions.
Did you read that Paul Nicholls is going to attempt an Aidan O’Brien and try to be champion trainer in Ireland, as well as Britain, this season?
That won’t half throw the cat among the pigeons. Paul is an outstanding trainer and has achieved so much already.
My immediate reaction, however, is that this constitutes just about the hardest task he has ever taken on.
Aidan is currently leading flat trainer in Britain with just 19 winners. But the two games are structured differently and I doubt that say 20 or so lucrative winners in Ireland would be good enough to see Paul beat the likes of Willie Mullins and Noel Meade.
If he finally decides to give it a go, though, then it goes without saying that I’ll be on his side, big-time.
Speaking of Paul, I called in to see him recently, after riding at Newton Abbot. I had a good look at Denman, Kauto Star, Neptune Collonges and Master Minded.
They all seemed great and were doing lots of work. It was smashing to think that they will be back on the racecourse within a few weeks.
Anyway, we will have plenty of time to talk about them through the winter, because I will be with you every Saturday right through to the Punchestown Festival next April.
