Lockstockandbarrel to make winning jump debut
This Flemensfirth gelding, trained for Mrs Sue Magnier by Willie Mullins, showed plenty of promise in two bumper starts last season and should be capable of making a major impact at this level.
Lockstockandbarrel made his debut at Leopardstown’s Hennessy meeting a year ago and performed creditably to finish second to the very smart Vigil.
That promising effort saw him sent off a red-hot 4/11 shot for his only subsequent start, at Naas in March, when he could finish only third behind Emerging Talent (now rated 136 over hurdles in England) and Sub Lieutenant, a winner and Grade 1 placed over hurdles this season.
Sure to know his job and with Ruby Walsh in the saddle, Lockstockandbarrel is preferred to Tom Foley’s Toushan, third to Cliff House at Gowran Park last time. A five-time winner for Fergal O’Brien before joining Noel Meade and successful over fences in Down Royal, Down Ace should appreciate a drop in class in the opening mares novice chase.
Runner-up to Dazzling Susie on this track late last year and a faller (at the seventh) in the hot mares event won by Vroum Vroum Mag last month, Down Ace was thrown in at the deep end last time, when finishing tenth behind Hennessy runner-up Foxrock in the Leopardstown Chase.
Back in a five-runner mares event, the 127-rated Down Ace sets a decent standard.
The Colm Murphy-trained Rye Martini has a similar rating to Down Ace and, reverting to novice chasing after a fourth to Kitten Rock over hurdles at Naas last time out, should prove tough to beat in the Ballycahill Beginners Chase.
This Gigginstown-owned gelding included a third to Foxrock among his runs last season and was running a good race in the Troytown at Navan back in November when falling three from home.
Rye Martini should be more than capable of winning a beginners’ event of this type and his experience might give him the edge over Sumos Novios, which has acquitted himself well twice, at Punchestown, behind Valseur Lido and Mala Beach respectively.
