El Fabiolo can get back to winning ways at Leopardstown
El Fabiolo and J J Slevin. Pic: Healy Racing
Almost three years on from his ‘Arkle’ triumph at Cheltenham, El Fabiolo is difficult to oppose in the QuinnBet Hurdle on the first day of Leopardstown’s March meeting, the last jumps action at the Foxrock track until next Christmas.
Now a nine-year-old, the Willie Mullins-trained gelding has won three times over flights and has triumphed six times over fences, including a trio of Grade 1 novice prizes in the spring of 2023 – both the Irish and Cheltenham ‘Arkles’, followed by the Barberstown Castle Novice Chase at Punchestown.
And it must be noted that his ‘Arkle’ win at Cheltenham was at the expense of prolific Grade 1 performer Jonbon.
Later that year, El Fabiolo won the ‘Hilly Way’ in Cork before registering his fourth Grade 1 success in the Ladbrokes Dublin Chase at this venue.
But, in his subsequent starts over fences, jumping became an issue – he fell three times and was pulled up after a ‘howler’ in the 2024 Queen Mother Champion Chase, won by Captain Guinness.
El Fabiolo made his belated seasonal debut and reverted to hurdling for the first time since April 2022 when making all to beat Glen Kiln and Spillane’s Tower in a conditions event at Punchestown on New Year’s Eve before attempting to make all and fading late to finish fifth behind Brighterdsaysahead in the recent Irish Champion Hurdle.
Dropping in class, El Fabiolo has found a good opportunity to return to winning ways here and, in receipt of 5lb. from Gordon Elliott’s Maxxum, officially rated 4lb. inferior and sporting first-time cheekpieces, is a confident choice.
The King brothers, Connor and Daniel, should strike with Grey Jude in the opening RED MILLS EBF Auction Novice Hurdle.
Winner of a maiden hurdle in Cork in November, the 123-rated Capri gelding was then outpaced late by Raise You Up in a leg of this series in Naas but should bounce back here, at the expense of Tony Martin’s Chichester Park.
The J P McManus-owned, Gordon Elliott-trained The Wallpark, a progressive, six-time winner over hurdles (reached a mark of 155), was on many short-lists for a handicap chase at Cheltenham, but wasn’t even entered.
Although he jumped deliberately when tried in Grade 2 company in the ‘Ten Up’ at Navan last time, he finished strongly t get within two lengths of Oscars Brother.
Currently rated 142 over fences, he is weighted to win a decent handicap and, if he’s ridden more positively over this shorter-than-ideal trip and jumps more fluently, he should take plenty of beating in the listed QuinnBet Handicap Chase.
2.25. Grey Jude (n.b.)
2.55. Petit Secret
3.25. El Fabiolo (Nap)
3.55. Premier Rogue
4.25. The Wallpark
4.55. So They Tell Me
5.30. Mento
2.25. Chichester Park
2.55. Playtime
3.25. Maxxum
3.55. Krabat
4.25. Ballybawn Belter
4.55. Battle Of Mirbat
5.30. Cinating
