Roscommon preview: Workahead can make it two from two over fences
FLYING START: Workahead en route to a smooth chasing debut win at Wexford last month. Picture: Healy Racing
Successful on his fencing bow in Wexford, Workahead should follow-up and justify short-priced favouritism in the McGowan Accountancy Services Novice Chase in Roscommon.
Trained by the in-form Henry de Bromhead, this eight-year-old achieved a decent level over hurdles, with a mark of 145, and was considered good enough to take his chance in the Champion Hurdle, won by Lossiemouth, back in March.
As a novice, he beat the classy William Munny in a Leopardstown maiden, having finished third to subsequent Grade One winner Jasmin De Vaux in Navan.
Over this past winter, he finished fourth in the Limestone Lad at Naas before being collared on the run-in by Storm Heart in the Grade Two Red Mills Trial Hurdle at Gowran Park, ahead of his Champion Hurdle bid.
The Workforce gelding made his belated chase debut in Wexford three weeks ago, producing a very satisfactory round of jumping before mastering front-running previous winner Supersundae, from whom he was receiving 6lb.
There was a lot to like about Workahead’s performance, coasting home seven and a half lengths clear. And there should be plenty more to come from him.
Today, he must concede weight to his seven rivals but looks a cut above them and should prevail.
The Tote.ie Connacht National looks wide open. But the Enda Bolger-trained Pride Of Place, bidding for his second ‘National’ of the season, makes each-way appeal.
A dour stayer, he landed the Killarney National last month under today’s rider Charlie O’Dwyer, slamming Caesar Rock, and might defy a 9lb hike in the ratings.
Leading the opposition to Bolger’s charge is another JP McManus-owned contender, the Emmet Mullins-trained Harbour Highway, 8lb higher than when scoring at Leopardstown in March and coming into the race on the back of a close second to Nastya in Limerick. First-time cheekpieces will boost his chance.
The Willie Mullins-trained Linford created a good impression when scoring on his debut at Killarney last month and will be strongly-fancied to follow-up in the today’s bumper.
But it may be worth taking a chance on Declan Queally’s mare Tell The Boys, second in a decent mares’ bumper in Cork before bolting up by 14 lengths in Listowel last week.
Receiving the mares’ allowance, plus Barry Stone’s 7lb claim, Tell The Boys might prove too strong for the favourite.
4.43 Cinating
5.18 Polepatrick
5.48 Sir Allen
6.18 Workahead (NB)
6.48 Pride Of Place
7.18 Spanish Maid (Nap)
7.48 Finnicky Filly
8.18 Tell The Boys
4.43 Take The Free
5.18 Berto Ramirez
5.48 Simple Things
6.18 Scalpnagoon
6.48 Harbour Highway
7.18 Soldante
7.48 Jouster
8.18 Linford
