Speculateur set to make winning start to life over fences
IN FULL FLOW: Speculateur and Sam Ewing saunter to victory at Sligo in May. Picture: Healy Racing
Speculateur can get punters off to the best possible start at Fairyhouse on Tuesday by winning the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase, the opening contest on the eight-race card.
Fourth in a Punchestown bumper on his first start for Gordon Elliott last November, the Robcour-owned No Risk At All gelding was placed in his first five starts over hurdles before taking full advantage of what was essentially a penalty kick when scoring at odds of 1-5 at Sligo on his final start last season.
Six months on, the five-year-old grey, successful in the point-to-point sphere when in the care of Colin Bowe, is stepped up in trip for his chasing debut and is fancied to get the job done in the hands of Jack Kennedy.
Stablemate Bon Bon Fizz looks the one to beat in the Sign Up To GavinLynchRacing.com Maiden Hurdle.
This Pour Moi gelding made an inauspicious start to his career when falling in a point-to-point at Dromahane last December and on his hurdling debut at Thurles last February before bolting up in a bumper on his return to the Tipperary venue a month later.
That was to prove his final start for Paul Flynn as Bon Bon Fizz was bought by Gigginstown House Stud to be trained by Elliott for whom he ran a fine race when a close second in a bumper at the Punchestown festival.
Elliott has had plenty of time to improve Bon Bon Fizz’s jumping technique since then and a clear round here should be enough to see him home in front, chiefly at the expense of Poets Rambler who will be looking to end Noel Meade’s wait for his 3,000th career winner.
Elsewhere on the card, Kazbek can turn the tables on Punchestown nemesis Another Challenge in the first division of the William Hill Challenge Series Handicap Hurdle.
Only half a length separated the pair last month but the Peter Fahey-trained Kazbek us weighted to reverse the form this time and is fancied to do so.
And, with the slight drop in trip expected to suit, recent Limerick third Tudorista can land the spoils in the second division of that race.
12.00 Speculateur (Nap)
12.35 Schiehallion
1.10 Maxminelli
1.45 Bon Bon Fizz (NB)
2.20 Quinta Do Lago
2.55 Kazbek
3.30 Tudorista
4.04 Felicity Smoak
12.00 Caher Roes Den
12.35 Ceroc
1.10 Sir Benji
1.45 Poets Rambler
2.20 Sageborough
2.55 Another Challenge
3.30 King Of The Greys
4.04 Moonshine Girl
