Devil is fiendishly tempting
Ruby Walsh has long been confident about the prospects of Ted Spread, who was an easy winner last time and who has his sights set on bigger things next week.
When trained on the flat by Mark Tompkins, he was considered a St Leger type and with that sort of class to call on, he should surely be competitive off a mark of 135 over hurdles. He deserves to be sent off favourite for today’s race and I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t go very close.
However, when it comes to big-field handicap hurdles, I like to look for a little more value and that could reside with 14-1 chance Devil To Pay.
Still quite lightly raced and open to improvement, he pushed Sire De Grugy all the way when the pair met at Taunton last month. He’s now 2lbs better for a three-parts of a length beating and, while that doesn’t necessarily guarantee a reversal of the placings, it should ensure that the six-year-old is competitive.
Another real positive is the fact that trainer Alan King knows what it takes to win these competitive handicap hurdles, having sent out Raya Star to win the Ladbroke at Ascot back in December.
The faster the ground, the better for Devil To Pay and, while soft looks likely to be in the description this afternoon, he has enough in his favour to expect a big run.
All the talk has been of the David Pipe-trained Master Of Arts, who is short of hurdling experience but has been kept busy on the flat.
He made a winning start over hurdles all the way back in 2009 when he beat the subsequently very smart Copper Bleu, but he was reported to have come back lame after being pitched straight in to the Triumph for his second outing over timber.
It’s nearly three years since he last jumped a hurdle in public but Mark Johnston has kept him ticking on the flat and David Pipe and his team are adept at preparing horses for this sort of assignment.
Eight winners of this race have been sent out from the Pond House stables and there seems to be real confidence that Master Of Arts can make it nine. That’s quite possible, but he’s quite short in the betting and is one I’m happier to sit back and watch rather than get involved with.
There are a number of firms going 1/4 the odds the first five, so make sure you avail of that offer whether backing the favourite or looking for something at longer odds.
Without a shadow of a doubt, the best race of the weekend is the clash of Bog Warrior, Flemenstar and Rathlin in the Naas Directors Plate Novice Chase (2.45) tomorrow.
Rathlin has improved beyond all recognition since having a breathing operation earlier in the season and he’s not one to be taken too lightly, but I’ll still be very disappointed if this doesn’t boil down to a match between Bog Warrior and Flemenstar.
The pair met at Navan back in November and the Tony Martin-trained Bog Warrior came out on top quite comprehensively.
However, that was the chasing debut of both horses and a lot has happened since.
Flemenstar was superb when slamming a reasonable field in the Grade 1 Irish Arkle Chase at Leopardstown back in January, where he really enjoyed the heavy ground and jumped for fun to win without ever having to be asked a real question.
He’s stepping up to two and a half miles today but if his trainer Peter Casey’s dream of going ‘Gold Cupping’ is to be realised, he’ll have to stay this far and much, much further.He didn’t look to be stopping when winning the at Leopardstown and I firmly believe it’s well within his compass.
There is a slight concern that the ground is drying out too much for him but, again, if he’s ever to be a Cheltenham horse, he’ll have to deal with these conditions, and better.
Bog Warrior blotted his copybook when decanting Davy Russell at Leopardstown in December but he returned to winning ways here at Naas last month. Previously, he won the Grade 1 Drinmore over this trip and so won’t be caught for stamina.
The concern for punters is that he can pull very hard in his races and often carries his head low. Today’s race will be a true test and he can’t afford to do anything wrong if he’s to confirm earlier form.
In truth, there isn’t an awful lot to split the pair and having a bet could come down to price. The bookmakers early offerings of 7-4 about Flemenstar, as opposed to even-money about Bog Warrior, sways preference to the former.
