Quintana my best hope on a tricky day
I have to say I’m far more hopeful than confident regarding his prospects. He’s in great form, working well at home, and arrives on the back of a solid effort on the flat at Killarney.
The problem, however, is that he may well struggle on the ground and is no certainty to get three miles.
I’ll be riding him with loads of patience, in an effort to conserve his energy. But, if we arrive with a chance turning in, then it will be a pleasant surprise.
I think Mister Top Notch is the real class horse of the contest. His fourth behind The Listener in the Hennessy at Leopardstown speaks for itself.
I know he has to carry top weight, on his first outing of the campaign, and that’s not going to be easy.
But top weights can win this. Dorans Pride did it and I won on another of them, Euro Leader, so it’s far from impossible.
Green Mile, not the biggest horse in the world for chasing, has a real live chance down near the bottom of the weights.
He is a smasher, game as a pebble. The big question mark against him is his ability to handle the ground.
Mind you, I rode him one day over hurdles at Donpatrick on soft ground and, coming away from the third last, it would be no exaggeration to say he was going to win with about two stone in hand.
A horse then cannoned into us and I was knocked clean out of the saddle.
Macs Flamingo was fifth in the Galway Plate behind Oslot, but I’ve my doubts that’s good enough to take a hand now.
Bothar Na won the race two years ago and is best fresh, but you would have to harbour fears Irish Invader won’t stay.
Ordinarily, you would be inclined to think A New Story wouldn’t be good enough, on the basis he just lacks a gear.
But the ground here yesterday was particularly testing and I’ll guarantee you this National won’t be won by a fast horse!
A New Story has lots of experience and stays forever. I’d say he won’t be a million miles away.
Oulart has a chance as well. He likes to blaze along and could well get his own way in front.
Obviously, I hope I can win my fourth Kerry National, but fear Davenport Democrat won’t be up to the task and my two against the field are Mister Top Notch and Green Mile.
I begin the afternoon aboard Eight Up for Mick Murphy in the maiden hurdle. I rode him the first time he ran over hurdles, at Limerick, and he performed deplorably.
At least he has improved on that and ran his best race to date over jumps when third at Wexford last time.
This doesn’t seem the hottest contest in the world, but again I am just hoping for the best.
I team up with Fantastic Star for Michael Hourigan junior in the first division of the handicap hurdle and there seems little cause for optimism.
Michael, like his father, I’m sure, would love a winner at Listowel and I hope he will be able to tell me something that the form book certainly doesn’t.
I think my best chance of a winner comes on Dusty Sheehy’s Quintana in the beginners chase. This is a horse who owes me one.
I turned down the ride on him at this meeting a year ago and he went and won a maiden hurdle. I schooled Quintana at the Curragh recently and he jumped reasonably well.
I am getting plenty of encouragement from Dusty, so let’s hope he’s right.
I think Jamies Choice will win his fourth race on the trot in the handicap chase. To my eyes, he’s been scoring with lots in hand.
Maybe, you have never backed him and feel you’ve missed the wedding. It’s never too late to join in and he can pay for the honeymoon here!
