Leopardstown tips: No Flies On Him a fascinating contender for Edward O'Grady
TALENTED PROSPECT: No Flies On Him looks to have Grade One potential. Picture: Healy Racing
In the opening race on day one of the Leopardstown Christmas festival, the TRI Equestrian Maiden Hurdle for four-year-olds, one of the most interesting runners is No Flies On Him.
Now with Edward O’Grady, he was trained and ridden by Derek O’Connor when making a winning debut in a Knockanard point-to-point, and the runner-up in that race, Jango Baie, was subsequently sold to Britain and is with Nicky Henderson. Despite being particularly keen on his track debut, the latter managed to secure a narrow win, and is a leading fancy for the Grade One Novice Hurdle on Tuesday’s Aintree card.
No Flies On Him has similar potential and it will be fascinating to see which way he moves in the market. Willie Mullins has an obviously interesting sort in Anotherway, while Ascending, D B Cooper and I Am Lorenzo are others worth considering.
The second race, the Thorntons Recycling Maiden Hurdle, can also go to owner JP McManus with Mirazur West. Trained by Willie Mullins, he made his track debut in March at Naas and ran out an easy winner of a bumper. He looked like a real prospect that day and can give his trainer a third consecutive win in the race.
King Of Kingsfield, who finished runner-up in a Grade One on his most recent outing is the most obvious danger, while Group 1 Flat-race winner Helvic Dream must step forward considerably on his recent hurdling debut if he is to scale similar heights over timber.
The feature on the opening day is the Grade One Racing Post Novice Chase and Facile Vega should have little trouble justifying odds-on favouritism.
The leading bumper horse two seasons ago, he had an up-and-down novice hurdling campaign but showed that all of his potential remains when making a winning debut over fences on his only start to date this season. He has the size and scope to develop into a star chaser and can continue on that road with victory today.
Found A Fifty is the one most likely to give him something to think about, though the ground will suit Sharjah more than when he disappointed in the Drinmore and the stablemate to the selection can outrun his odds.
The careers@dornangroup.com Novice Handicap Chase is a race trainer Tony Martin likes to target and he has leading claims with Belgoprince. The selection had a good season on the Flat, winning a handicap at Tipperary and then routing the opposition in the Amateurs’ Derby at Epsom.
Having started the season on a mark of 67, he ended up with a figure of 80, and there is every reason to believe he can reflect that improvement over hurdles. Last time out, in a handicap hurdle at Cheltenham, he was in the process of running a superb race until making a bad mistake at the last.
He also has a bit of history in this race, having run in it in 2021, as a four-year-old. On that occasion, he was running off the same mark as on this occasion and was beaten just a short head by The Greek. If, as his form suggests, he has improved this term, he will take beating this time. Ca Plane Pour Moi, Lazer Wolf and Black Bamboo are also capable of making the frame.
The New Smart View Racecards By Racing Post Handicap Chase is not the strongest of races and so Chavez may be able to overcome a long absence and land the spoils for Willie and Danny Mullins. The Greek, who is likely to be quite a big price, has each-way claims.
12:00 No Flies On Him
12:35 Mirazur West
1:10 Mighty Bandit
1:45 Belgoprince
2:20 Facile Vega
2:55 Chavez
3:30 Cantico
12:00 Anotherway
12:35 King Of Kingsfield
1:10 Kala Conti
1:45 Ca Plane Pour Moi
2:20 Found A Fifty
2:55 The Greek
3:30 Mywayofthinkin
