Stiffer Navan track will play to So Young’s strengths
January is traditionally a bit of a quiet month for Paul Nicholls and, basically, there isn’t much for me in England today.
In any case remaining in Ireland gives me another chance to ride the ex-French horse, Ut de Sivola, in the Grade 3 hurdle for juveniles at Punchestown.
I rode him to win easily on his Irish debut at Clonmel and was greatly impressed. There are times when you can learn more about a horse after the finishing line than before it and this was one of those occasions.
The ground was bottomless, but he bounded past the stands and around the next bend for at least a few hundred yards.
I just think he is a smart horse. He is not overly big and didn’t arrive with a big reputation. But, hopefully, his reputation will grow as we go along.
He is a good-actioned horse and that usually means will be better on better ground. Ut de Sivola did, however, handle the surface so well at Clonmel you just couldn’t be confident that will be the case.
This contest is far more competitive than Clonmel, but I’ll still be disappointed should he fail to deliver.
I have two other rides, starting with another recruit from France, Sergent Guib’s, in a conditions hurdle. He hasn’t run for 715 days, not since scoring by a short head at Pau in January of 2010.
I presume he has had a problem or two along the way, but has been in training a long time, so fitness should not be a major concern.
Sergent is working quite well at home, but this looks a solid race and the fact he’s not a novice makes it difficult for Willie Mullins to slot him in.
There’s no doubt that the horse we all have to beat is Western Leader, who returned from a long absence to run a cracker against Mikael D’Haguenet at Punchestown last month.
I rode Mikael then and everyone knows, at this stage, what I think of him. When horses have their second run, following a long break, then can often regress and that’s the obvious question mark now against Western Leader.
I end aboard Allure Of Illusion, a half-brother to Blackstairmountain, in a maiden hurdle. This will be his first run over flights and his first since taking third to Steps To Freedom in a bumper at Aintree in April.
He too is going nicely at home and has schooled well. Faster ground would suit, though, and if he doesn’t win here it is only a matter of time before he does so.
I have to be more than hopeful of getting among the winners at Navan. So Young should be hard to beat in a two mile hurdle.
He has enjoyed easy successes at Punchestown and Thurles and is in fine shape right now.
So Young was able to win over this trip at Thurles and the stiffer Navan track will now play to his strengths. The handicapper, who doesn’t get much wrong. says we have just 4lbs in hand of Trifolium, so let’s see how close to the truth that is.
Yet another of Willie’s French-imports, Terminal, gets the ball rolling in the first, a maiden hurdle. He arrives on the back of winning three bumpers in his native country.
I have never seen him jump, but the lads in the yard tell me that should not be a problem. I rode Terminal work on Tuesday and he definitely gave me the feel of a horse who is at least capable of winning a maiden.
I partner Donttellmother for Conor O’Dwyer in a handicap hurdle, but he made no show at Limerick and it will be a pleasant surprise should we manage to get involved.
Are Ya Right Chief would be much more of a possibility in a maiden hurdle, although whether he can beat Knockgraffon King I just don’t know.
I rode Are Ya Right Chief when we were beaten a short head by Golanbrook at Gowran Park. We had no chance coming away from the second last and he simply picked up all too late. I left Gowran thinking he would win the next day.
But I didn’t reckon on meeting Noel Meade’s horse, who was second to me on Tony Martin’s Benefficient at Navan.
Benefficient is a horse I rate, so would have a lot of respect for Knockgraffon King. If you fancy Knockgraffon don’t let me put you off, but I will be doing my utmost to turn him over.
I conclude proceedings with another with a great chance, Bagber, in the beginners chase. I rode him to finish third over hurdles at the Punchestown festival in May, where he got all worked up prior to the race and then ran too free.
He has schooled more than adequately, but would appreciate the ground drying out. That said, I think he’ll win and go on to greater heights, as the campaign moves on.
If you fancy a tickle at Kempton today then risk a little each-way on Paul’s Domtaline in the Lanzarote Hurdle, with Harry Derham taking off a valuble 7lbs.
