Race by race
WE would appear to have a stranglehold on the market for this one, with Charles Byrnes’ Alfa Beat, Gordon Elliott’s Chicago Grey and Willie Mullins’ Some Target looking like particularly strong candidates and making up three of the top four places in the betting.
Kerry National winner Alfa Beat is seeking a six-timer. His trainer has enjoyed great success at the Festival and there’s no reason to suspect that this stamina-laded performer cannot go very close here.
Chicago Grey is a classy sort who ran RSA Chase favourite Time For Rupert to eight lengths before finishing a highly creditable fifth in the Grade 1 Fort Leney Chase last time out. He has a touch of class and certainly should have a major say in the race’s destination.
Some Target’s form took a massive leap forward at Punchestown last time out. The step up in trip was a significant factor then and he could improve again for this thorough test.
Best of the Irish: Chicago Grey.
Each-Way: Some Target.
Jessica Harrington’s Oscars Well is fully deserving of his place towards the head of the market. Improving at a rate of knots, he travelled with real purpose before racing home clear of Zaidpour in a Grade 1 last time out, and a big run here looks assured.
Willie Mullins’ So Young has been the subject of a huge gamble recently and he’ll prove very costly if failing to deliver. It’s impossible not to have been impressed with the way he won his two outings to date for Mullins and he remains firmly in the ‘could be anything’ category.
Mouse Morris’ First Lieutenant is very highly regarded.He beat Zaidpour in a Grade 1 (admittedly, not as impressively as Oscars Well subsequently did) but has scope for improvement.
Best of the Irish: Oscars Well.
Each-Way: First Lieutenant.
IT’D be wrong to criticise Jessica Harrington’s dual Grade 1 winner Bostons Angel but the level of the form of both races is in question and he will have to improve to emulate compatriot Weapon’s Amnesty, who won the race last season.
Jessies Dream took advantage of the departure of Mikael D’Haguenet to coast home in the Drinmore Chase but he was given an ill-judged ride when second behind Magnanimity last time out. One would expect that he will reverse the form with Dessie Hughes’ horse this afternoon and connections are confident of a really bold showing.
Mikael D’Haguenet remains a maiden over fences but his reputation also remains undiminished in many quarters.
Jockey Ruby Walsh rides him but he’s got some way to go to repay punters who have had their fingers burnt this season.
Quel Esprit adds an interesting second string to the Mullins bow.
Best of the Irish: Jessies Dream.
Each-Way: Mikael D’Haguenet.
BIG ZEB won this race last year and he looks ready to run for his life in a repeat bid. He’s capable of better than he’s shown here at home this season and, from the yard of a trainer with a terrific record in the championship races at the Festival, he will be very hard to beat on ground that plays to his strengths.
Former Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winner Captain Cee Bee has had his problems but he remains capable of a big run. The demands of this race might leave him susceptible to another bout of bleeding but, if not, he’s capable of getting involved.
Sizing Europe represents the novice class of 2010. Henry de Bromhead’s horse is a high-class animal but was disappointing last time out. He’s better than that and could make the frame.
Golden Silver chinned Big Zeb last time out but his Cheltenham record is uninspiring and he may prefer softer ground.
Best of the Irish: Big Zeb.
Each-Way: Sizing Europe.
WILLIE MULLINS’ Call The Police has been all the rage for this race and it’s easy to understand why. Second behind stable-companion Final Approach in the MCR Hurdle on his debut for Mullins, he landed the odds with the minimum of fuss next time out. Still lightly raced for his age, he could yet go on to better things.
Gordon Elliott’s Carlito Brigante cannot be dismissed without consideration.
Winner of the Scottish Triumph Hurdle last February, his form tapered off at the tail-end of the season but he appears to be peaking at the right time this term.
Best of the Irish: Call The Police.
Each-Way: Carlito Brigante.
ALWAYS a very tricky race, but Gordon Elliott’s Plan A has been well-backed for this race ever since he picked up a maiden hurdle at Gowran Park back in January.
A mark of 131 is far from prohibitive and he has got to enter the reckoning in quite a big way.
Arthur Moore's What A Charm has been disappointing over hurdles thus far but it'd be silly to write her off altogether. Twice a winner on the flat when trained by John Oxx, she's been thrown in at the deep end on all three outings to date.
A mark of 115 has a very dangerous look to it and the booking of Paul Townend adds further interest.
Best of the Irish: Plan A.
Each-Way: What A Charm.
UNUSUALLY, the Irish horses have not stamped their authority on this race this season and it looks a wide-open contest. Six-time winner Willie Mullins has just two runners - Lord Gale and Tusa Eire.
The former will be partnered by Patrick Mullins, who won the race aboard Cousin Vinny in 2008, while Ruby Walsh will partner Tusa Eire. It’s difficult to assign any particular significance to the riding arrangements and equally difficult assess the two runners.
The Colm Murphy-trained Raise The Beat hasn’t been seen since October but he was a comfortable winner of two bumpers pre-Christmas and has been well backed in recent weeks. A tall, gangly sort, he may not be at home on this track.
Shark Hanlon’s Star Neuville took three goes to win his bumper but he’s held in the highest regard and has been backed accordingly. Having Tony McCoy in the plate is a further positive.
Philip Rothwell’s Divine Rhapsody won last year’s Land Rover Bumper and has definite prospects.
Best of the Irish: Star Neuville.
Each-Way: Divine Rhapsody.
