Snake Oil can gain first winning bracket over fences
On Sunday’s card in Leopardstown, Snake Oil can gain a first winning bracket over fences by taking the Quinnbet Handicap Listed Chase. Picture: Healy Racing
Clonmel’s meeting scheduled for last Thursday was lost to the weather and there is a chance that Saturday’s card in Navan could be under similar pressure. With plenty of snow and rain around the country, a little luck may be required to pass the 7.30am inspection.
If it gets the green light, Kates Hill can get straight back to winning ways in the finale, the NavanRacecourse.ie Mares’ Handicap Chase. Having run Money Heisy to a length and a quarter in mid-December at Naas, Philip Dempsey’s mare went one place better with a game performance to beat the consistent Rolly Bowley Boy on her next start, in mid-January at Punchestown.
And early last month she went agonisingly close to following up at the same track when finding Lar’s Lass just a neck too good. She was a shade unlucky that day but has gone up just 1lb for the defeat. The drop in trip is of no concern as the drop in grade more than offsets it, and she can take this at the expense of Jumping Jet.
Blood Destiny, having twice been beaten at odds-on, could scarcely be described as a punters’ pal, but he can get back to winning ways in the Grade Three Flyingbolt Novice Chase.
Willie Mullins’ horse was most impressive on his chasing debut, in mid-December in Naas, and the form received a boost when the runner-up, Heart Wood, won a fiercely competitive handicap chase at the Dublin Racing Festival.
On the back of that, he was sent off a 2-5 chance to follow up in a Grade Three at Punchestown but found one his rivals here, Spillane’s Tower, a couple of lengths too good. He is three pounds better off this time, but the drop back to two miles is what sways the verdict in his favour. He is quite a keen-going sort but has quite an engine and over this trip he can go forward and see off all of his rivals.
On Sunday’s card in Leopardstown, Snake Oil can gain a first winning bracket over fences by taking the Quinnbet Handicap Listed Chase. A lightly raced nine-year-old, Barry Connell’s horse won a bumper in 2020 and a maiden two years later.
Chasing has been his focus since late 2022 and while he struggled initially, he showed improved form when third to The Folkes Tiara on his penultimate start. He dropped back to two miles for his most recent outing and made a mistake at a crucial stage. Noted staying on well, he was certainly unlucky but should have no excuse this time. The significant step up in trip will bring out the best in him and he can take this at the expense of Digby.
It is the best part of three years since Ashdale Bob last earned a trip to the winner’s enclosure, but he can right that wrong by taking the Quinnbet Hurdle. Jessica Harrington’s nine-year-old has been competing in good company since his last win and will find these rivals a little less demanding. He wears cheekpieces for the first time and if they help to focus him just a shade more, he will take a great deal of beating. Dee Capo and Cash Back are the ones to give him most to think about.
1:35 Charming Star
2:10 Lazy Bones
2:40 El Capitaine
3:15 Special Cadeau
3:48 Blood Destiny (nb)
4:23 Journey With Me
4:58 Kates Hill (nap)
1:35 Shahbaz
2:10 Jokers ‘n’ Clowns
2:40 Chosen Diamond
3:15 Kinturk KAlanisi
3:48 Flanking Maneuver
4:23 Ash Tree Meadow
4:58 Jumping Jet
1:40 Captain Cody
2:15 Gabriel Ranger
2:50 Ashdale Bob (nb)
3:25 Clear The clouds
4:00 Snake Oil (nap)
4:35 Where’s Frankie
5:07 Buckaway Freddie
1:40 The Blizzard Of Oz
2:15 Lord Vader
2:50 Dee Capo
3:25 Milk Market
4:00 Digby
4:35 Pictures Of Home
5:07 Nitty Gritty
