Fact To File poised to shine in Brown Advisory
THE TIME IS NOW: The day has arrived for Fact To File in the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase. Pic: Healy Racing
D-day has arrived for Fact To File and the seven-year-old can justify the hype surrounding him by coming out on top in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase.
Runner-up in last year’s Champion Bumper, Willie Mullins opted to go the ‘Florida Pearl route’ by sending the JP McManus-owned gelding straight over fences.
Beaten on debut by American Mike, Fact To File has been visually spectacular in two subsequent starts, cruising to a 17-length beginners’ chase win at Leopardstown over Christmas.
He then came home alone in the Grade One Ladbrokes Novice Chase at the Dublin Racing Festival where his pace and power left stablemate Gaelic Warrior reeling.
It’s fair to say his form to date is more about style than substance but the Mullins camp are convinced Fact To File is a Gold Cup winner in the making and he is fancied to justify their confidence.
That said, this will be his toughest test yet as Stay Away Fay looks sure to run a big race for Paul Nicholls.
Like Fact To File, last year’s Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle hero is two from three over fences, his defeat coming when pitched into open company in the Cotswold Chase where he ran with credit to finish third.
With the ground in his favour, a big run seems certain from this dour stayer but Fact To File’s class may ultimately carry him to glory.
Ballyburn can kick off what promises to be another great day for Mullins by winning the opening race, the Gallagher Novices’ Hurdle.
Beaten by Firefox on his first start over hurdles, Ballyburn has looked awesome in two subsequent starts, winning his maiden hurdle by 25 lengths at Christmas before returning to Leopardstown to bag a first Grade One success at the Dublin Racing Festival, form boosted by runner-up Slade Steel winning the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle yesterday. He can confirm his status as the most exciting novice hurdler in training by outclassing his rivals today. Stablemate Predators Gold can win the race for second.
El Fabiolo is impossible to oppose in the feature, the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase. The seven-year-old finished five and a half lengths in front of Jonbon in last year’s Arkle and two emphatic wins in two starts this season have stretched his unbeaten record over fences to six. His jumping hasn’t always been flawless but is improving all the time and a clear round here should see him home in front of Alan King's Edwardstone.
The Weatherbys Champion Bumper shapes as an absolute minefield but, with nine of the 23 runners coming from Closutton, the fact Patrick Mullins has opted to partner Jasmin De Vaux, a 15-length winner of a Naas bumper in January, has to be viewed as a positive for his prospects.
You Oughta Know, second in a Grade Two at the Dublin Racing Festival on his sole start this season, looks another leading contender.
Away from the Grade One action, Maskada may be able to repeat last year’s victory in the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase. In truth, her form this season wouldn’t inspire confidence but it’s likely her entire season has been building towards this one day. Path D’Oroux, second in his last two starts, should also be in the mix for Gavin Cromwell.
Nicky Henderson has saddled the winner of the Coral Cup three times in the last decade, an impressive record that Doddiethegreat may be able to enhance further.
This horse defied a 746-day layoff when scoring at Ascot in October before finishing second at Cheltenham on his next start. He again ran with credit when fourth in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury last time out and another big run looks on the cards here. Jigoro is unproven over this trip but, if he stays, he’s an intriguing contender for Gordon Elliott.
1.45: Ballyburn (NB)
2.30: Fact To File (Nap)
3.15: Doddiethegreat
4:00 El Fabiolo
4.50: Maskada
5:30: Jasmin De Vaux
1.45: Predators Gold
2.30: Stay Away Fay
3.15: Jigoro
4.00: Jonbon
4.50: Path D’Oroux
5.30: You Oughta Know
