Whiskeywealth has potent claims at Gowran
Whiskeywealth and John Shinnick winning the Adare Manor Oportunity Handicap Hurdle in Naas last month. Look for him in the €45,000 Holden Plant Rentals Shamrock Handicap Chase at Gowran Park today. Picture: Healy Racing
The Terence O’Brien-trained Whiskeywealth has rock-solid claims in today’s Gowran Park feature, the €45,000 Holden Plant Rentals Shamrock Handicap Chase.
Successful twice over hurdles and fences, the versatile eight-year-old is reverting to the bigger obstacles on the back of a gutsy handicap hurdle win at Naas when, off 113, he beat Verbal Sparring convincingly.
Last Easter, he was a last fence casualty at Grade B handicap at Fairyhouse when, in receipt of 16lb, he was being tackled by Dinoblue, a mare who has progressed to triumph at Grade One level and is favourite for the Mares’ Chase at Cheltenham.
And his fourth to Solness at Fairyhouse in December also points to his chance today, when John Shinnick, who is enjoying a tremendous strike-rate for the O’Brien yard, will claim a valuable 7lb.
The Willie Mullins-trained Aime Desjy, runner-up to Saint Felicien here last time, sets the standard in the Holden Fleet Management Beginners Chase and should score for Paul Townend, if brushing up his jumping.
And Gordon Elliott’s Angostura, collared late by Helvic Dream at Navan on his racecourse debut, might be capable of conceding weight to 105-rated Tranquil Sea in the opener.
No Match for her Cheltenham-bound stable-companion Jade De Grugy in the Solerina at Fairyhouse last time, Closutton mare A Penny A Hundred looks the one to beat in the Grade Three Irish EBF Shannon Spray Mares Novice Hurdle in Limerick tomorrow.
Rated 133 and the mount of Danny Mullins, she also bumped into Jetara at Punchestown since winning her maiden at this venue back in October.
And, on form, she should have the edge over Gavin Cromwell’s Bioluminescence and the selection’s stable-companion Judicieuse Allen.
Elsewhere on the Limerick card, Joseph O’Brien’s Intellotto, dropping from Grade One company, should take the Panoramic Restaurant At Limerick 4-Y-0 Hurdle while locally-trained Falco Blitz, up 7lb for his Thurles win, might defy top-weight in the Good Luck Irish Runners Veterans Handicap Chase.
We also have Sunday action in Naas where the last two winners of the Bar One Racing Leinster National, Diol Ker and Espanito Bello, have the Mullins-trained novice Minella Cocooner to beat in this year’s renewal.
The champion trainer runs both Mirazur West and Fun Fun Fun in the Grade Three Bar One Racing Kingsfurze Novice Hurdle, a race which might be decided by tactics as both Closutton challenges like to roll along in front.
Preference is for Paul Townend’s mount Fun Fun Fun, a Grade Two bumper winner and all-the-way conqueror of 136-rated Flavour And Fortune in a recent listed event in Exeter.
The Mullins team will rely on Gowran winner Tactical Move in the Grade Three Bar One Racing Directors Plate. But he might struggle to cope with Noel Meade’s Flanking Maneuver, third to Blood Destiny in the Grade Three Flyingbolt at Navan last time.
