Tommy Lyon’s race-by-race guide to today’s Irish hopefuls at Cheltenham
In just two starts, Dermot Weld's Unaccompanied has made a real name for herself over hurdles. A mare with the physique for this game, she was an impressive winner of her maiden at Punchestown before making light of a significant step up in class when casting aside the 132-rated Sailors Warn in the Grade 1 Spring Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown last month. The first runner over hurdles for her owners, the Moyglare Stud, she has real claims in an open-looking race.
Sailors Warn re-opposes the filly here and, though it's certain that there were no excuses for Eddie O'Grady's horse on that occasion, he stayed on in good style and could be they type to take to this track. Tommy Stack's Mister Carter looked like a useful recruit to hurdling when making a winning debut over flights and may prove better than his latest effort suggests.
Unaccompanied Each-Way: Sailors Warn
Gordon Elliott's Dirar won last season's Ebor Handicap on the level at York but he's also quite a progressive hurdler who could prove very well handicapped here. He hasn't seen a jump in public since finishing a fine third behind Overturn in last year's Galway Hurdle but he has been primed for this race with a highly creditable run on the all-weather at Kempton last month.
His trainer has a reputation as one of the shrewdest handlers in the business and it looks as though Dirar's handicap mark over hurdles has been protected with this race in mind. His current assessment is far from insurmountable and he must hold huge claims.
Willie Mullins has many entries and perhaps MCR Hurdle winner Final Approach represents his best chance. Shrewdly trained to win that race for the sponsors, the useful flat performer has plenty of scope for improvement in this sphere and must be respected.
Stable-companion Blackstairmountain has the ignominious distinction of being the first Irish horse to trade at 1.01 on Betfair and be beaten on two occasions. However, he's a classy sort who could relish the demands of this race.
Dirar Each-Way: Blackstairmountain
CHARLES Byrnes’ subsequent RSA Chase winner Weapon’s Amnesty was a winner of this race back in 2009 but there isn’t an Irish horse prominent in the betting for this year’s renewal.
Willie Mullins’ Gagewell Flyer is difficult to fault on what he’s done this season and, if taking his place, could surprise some of his better fancied rivals. The decision to force the pace with him has paid rich dividends this term and he completed his hat-trick when just holding off the whirlwind finish of stable-companion Earlson Grey.
Another stable-mate, Allee Garde, is unusual for a Willie Mullins horse insofar as he failed to win a bumper in five attempts.
However, he made a very bright start to his hurdling career when jumping notably well and readily racing clear of a big field of maiden hurdlers. He looks the type to excel over a trip and could run a huge race at similarly attractive odds.
Allee Garde Each-Way: Gagewell Flyer
NOEL Meade’s Pandorama was disappointing when pulling-up in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury but he showed that form to be wrong when taking the Grade 1 Lexus Chase at Leopardstown on his very next outing.
Also a Grade 1 winner over hurdles and twice as a novice chaser, he’s only ever been beaten twice on the racetrack. Soft ground would be of great benefit to him but that seems unlikely at this stage.
His class should see him get amongst the better fancied runners but winning might be beyond him if the ground rides genuinely fast.
Kempes is a useful sort who produced what was easily his best ever run when winning the Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown last time out. It’s pretty hard to get excited about the bare form of that race but he’s quite progressive and entitled to take his chance. China Rock tried to steal the Irish Hennessy by heading for home early but the exertions took their toll and he faded back into fourth place. He must improve on all known form but is respected for his trainer’s impressive Cheltenham record.
Pandorama Each-Way: Kempes
ENDA Bolger, who won this race with Elegant Lord back in 1996, has a very interesting runner in the shape of On The Fringe.
The winning point to pointer is unbeaten in two starts in Hunter Chases — most recently when racing away from Rudi Trucker in the Raymond Smith Memorial at Leopardstown.
His victory was made easier by the departure of challenger Viking Splash at the final fence but On The Fringe is very lightly raced six-year-old that looks certain to progress further.
Confidence would also appear to be high and in the market he’s closing in on last year’s winner Baby Run.
Oscar Delta’s sole outing on a racetrack resulted in very little of a positive note but Jimmy Mangan’s horse comes here on the crest of a wave having won his last three point to points in great style.
The booking of Damien Murphy is also a positive as he rode the Raymond Hurley-trained Whyso Mayo to victory in the race in 2006.
On The Fringe Each-Way: Oscar Delta
Willie Mullins’s Sir Des Champs is the sole representative from Ireland but he’s a really interesting raider, who could well prove up to the task.
Thoroughly unexposed, he was a winner on his hurdling debut at Auteuil last March, and he maintained his unbeaten record over hurdles when making a successful start for new connections at Navan in January.
The bare form of the race is nothing special but he won it with real authority and could be anything. It's safe to assume that significant progress will be forthcoming and if he handles faster ground he must have a favourite's chance.
Sir Des Champs
Robert Tyner's Askthemaster also flies solo in the final race of the meeting but he’s representing a stable that has enjoyed notable success this season.
He finished behind Peak Raider, over hurdles, last time out but previously picked up a handicap chase at Leopardstown in pretty good style.
He's still quite lightly raced for an eleven-year-old and it isn't beyond him to put up a bold show for his shrewd connections but he is operating off a career high mark.
Askthemaster
