Sir Des can finally lay down Gold Cup marker
In both his races this season he was beaten by Flemenstar, but there were extenuating circumstances and Willie Mullins’ seven-year-old can now reverse the placings.
At Punchestown in December Flemenstar slammed his rival by five lengths, but had a previous outing under his belt and was greatly favoured by the two and a half mile trip.
They then clashed in the Lexus at Leopardstown at Christmas and the gap this time was down to a short head, Flemenstar taking third and Sir Des Champs fourth behind Tidal Bay and First Lieutenant.
Flemenstar travelled and jumped beautifully through the contest and looked all over a winner early in the straight. But his stamina ebbed away from the back of the last and he was grabbed close home.
In contrast little went right for Sir Des Champs. Some of his jumping was sloppy, after he had been ridden with a certain amount of restraint by Davy Russell.
It’ll be a surprise should Russell not make a lot more use of Sir Des Champs on this occasion and he gets the vote to outstay Flemenstar.
The Grade 1 Spring Juvenile Hurdle is the best contest of its type run in Ireland this season and can go to another Mullins inmate — Diakali.
The fact he is preferred by Paul Townend to Blood Cotil is clearly significant and the grey son of Sinndar made a huge impression when slamming Flaxen Flare by 28 lengths at Punchestown.
Mullins’ Champagne Fever is on a retrieving mission in the Deloitte Hurdle, having run a shocker when a remote third behind Rule The World and Minsk at Naas.
For the moment a watching brief may be prudent and the nod falls on Dermot Weld’s Waaheb. He performed with a lot of promise behind Jezki at Leopardstown last time and the drying ground and an extra two furlongs are in his favour.
At Naas tomorrow, Henry de Bromhead’s You Must Know Me can get back on track in the Tote Trifecta Rollover Beginners Chase.
He ran Boston Bob close at Navan, on his debut over fences, and was found to be very lame when then disappointing behind Vesper Bell at Punchestown subsequently.
Tom Mullins’ Some Article is fancied to deliver in the Paddy Power Cheltenham Trial Sunday 24th February Maiden Hurdle.
Potentially a smart sort in the making, he was short of room when running out before the second in the contest won by Legal Exit at Leopardstown two weeks ago. This represents a good opportunity.
Clondaw Court, who won by 27 lengths at Punchestown in November, is the obvious one in the bumper.
