Down Memory Lane poised to extend unbeaten record

The Grade One Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle can go the way of the unbeaten Down Memory Lane.

Down Memory Lane & Derek O'Connor win the Tayto Maiden Hurdle. Pic: HEALY RACING

Wed, 27 Dec, 2023 - 06:54

Tommy Lyons

Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winner Marine Nationale makes his chasing debut in the Paddy Power Beginners’ Chase on this afternoon’s card in Leopardstown and while it is impossible to oppose him in this field, the application of a tongue-tie sounds a note of caution for the season ahead.

In recording two wins from two starts in bumpers, and three from three over hurdles, he showed a great range of ability, dealing well with good and soft ground, fast and slow paces, and ultimately coping with the best of company.

An athletic sort, he has the potential to be even better over fences and if whatever it is that has convinced connections to reach for a tongue-tie does not ail him, he could scale the heights in this discipline. This race is not a true test of his ability, and a clear round will suffice.

The Grade One Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle can go the way of the unbeaten Down Memory Lane. An easy winner of a point-to-point and a bumper, he made his hurdling debut last month in Down Royal and didn’t have to be asked too much of a question to justify odds of 2-7. Gordon Elliott’s horse has the potential to reach the top and can extend his perfect record to four.

Daddy Long Legs is the most interesting of his rivals. He made his debut just 27 days ago and ran out an easy winner of a Thurles maiden. It wasn’t the strongest of races, but he won in a common canter, and it is difficult to know just how good he could be. This is a considerable step up in a very short space of time but his trainer, Willie Mullins, has won six of the last eight runnings of the race and this fellow is the choice of Paul Townend.

The other Grade One on the card is the Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase and while the trip is longer than Captain Guinness has ever won at, he appears to be back in top form and can break new ground. Henry de Bromhead’s runner developed a problem early in his novice chasing season and it took time for him to find his form, but the end of last season and start of this one suggests he may be better than ever. A strong traveller and a good jumper, he can pounce late to land the spoils. Dinoblue is a progressive mare and much respected.

The Paddy Power Chase, worth €110,000 to the winner, is the most valuable race on the card and De Bromhead’s Amirite makes most appeal in a typically competitive renewal. He made a winning start over fences early last season but failed to build on that.

On his return to action, he finished fourth in a handicap chase at Cheltenham, where his saddle slipped. Capable of stepping up quite considerably, he has strong claims, though the application of a tongue-tie is a slight concern. James Du Berlais is capable of a bold showing, as is Gars De Sceaux, while Panda Boy has been campaigned with this race in mind and has obvious claims for his shrewd connections.

In Limerick, Hauturiere can get the better of old foe Harmonya Maker when they contest the Grade Two McMahons Builders Providers Irish EBF Dawn Run Mares’ Novice Chase.

When they met earlier this month in Cork, they finished second and fourth, with three lengths between them, but the selection, who was fourth that day, will appreciate the step up in trip and can reverse the form.

Last season, over hurdles at this venue, they met over a similar trip and Harmonya Maker was a place in front of Hauturiere when falling at the second-last. Having been up there from the outset, she was just beginning to feel the pinch and there was every chance that Hauturiere would have picked her up in the closing stages.

With that and the fact she showed a tendency to jump and hang left at Cork in mind, she is opposable, and Hauteriere can use this opportunity to get back to winning ways.

LEOPARDSTOWN

12:05 Ethical Diamond

12:35 Marine Nationale

1:10 Captain Guinness

1:45 Down Memory Lane (nb)

2:20 Fortunedefortunata

3:00 Amirite

3:35 Joystick

Next best

12:05 Ndaawi

12:35 Ho My Lord

1:10 Dinoblue