Prince can lord it
Previewing the contest is complicated by virtue of the fact that the long-time ante-post favourite, Beautiful Sound, is second reserve and it remains to be seen if he will get in. Clearly, it’s a ridiculous situation, but more about that at another time.
In any case, no matter what the final line-up, the grey Prince Erik is capable of a big run. He’s been performing well over trips short of his best this season, warming up for this when beating Montan by a neck over two and a half miles at Naas last month.
The seven-year-old has two runs to his credit which emphasise he is a real possibility. Firstly, he chased home Buena Vista in the three mile Pertemps Handicap Hurdle Final at last year’s Cheltenham festival.
Then at the Galway festival, Prince Erik finished to real effect when beaten a neck into second by Chicago Grey, who went on to land the four mile National Hunt Chase at this year’s Cheltenham festival.
Should Beautiful Sound get in then, obviously, he’s entitled to the utmost respect. He was doing his best work at the end of two miles and five at Cheltenham when third behind Holmwood Legend.
There are loads of others with chances, but Prince Erik jumps and stays well and, crucially, will relish the surface.
The classy Voler La Vedette is best treated at the weights in the Grade 2 Keelings Irish Strawberry Hurdle, but is best in testing conditions and, for that reason, is passed over.
The nod falls on Blackstairmountain, even though he is 16lbs wrong at the weights with Voler La Vedette.
Willie Mullins’ charge, however, will handle the surface, is a fresh horse and ran a cracker when seventh behind stable companion, Final Approach, in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham.
For Bill gets the vote in the Listed John Fowler Memorial EBF Mares’ Chase, even though the surface is a major concern. She was beaten three lengths by Aura About You at Limerick last time, but one suspects the selection wasn’t at her best that day and now re-opposes on 6lbs better terms.
