Hi all,
A couple of tasty winners on Sunday courtesy of Master McShee & Castlebawn West in the Paddy Power Handicap Chase. Yesterday more than made up for a low-key Boxing Day.
Leopardstown and Limerick take centre stage today. The feature race of seven race card at Leopardstown is a competitive looking Grade 1 Savills Chase (2:25).
Leopardstown
12:40 – Twenty go to post for this Pertemps Series Qualifier.
The market is headed by The Bosses Oscar. Fifth in last year’s Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle the 6-year-old has made a good return to action winning at Thurles and then finishing runner-up in Navan 23-days ago.
Morosini pulled up on his chase debut but was back to form when returned hurdling. Finishing 4th of 16 at Naas last time. Looks worth another try at 3m.
Unexpected Depth returned from a 431-day break to make it 3-8 over hurdles when winning a 3m handicap hurdle at Punchestown 20-days ago. An 8lb rise in the weights isn’t harsh and he looks the one to be with here.
1pt win – Unexpected Depth – 13/2 @ Ladbrokes
1:50 – Handsworth remains a maiden after nine start over hurdles but put in a career best effort when 2nd of 10 at Wexford two starts back. And wasn’t disgraced when 5th of 15 at Navan last time over 2m 6f. Drop back to 2m 4f could prove ideal and Jack Kennedy is an eyecatching jockey booking.
1pt each way – Handsworth – 14/1 @ Paddy Power (paying 6 places 1/5 odds)
2:25 – Savills Chase (Grade 1) – 3m
Fourteen go to post for what looks an above average renewal of the race. Except for Gold Cup winner Al Boum Photo it’s the best of the Irish three mile division.
Minella Indo, runner-up to Champ in the RSA Novices’s Chase head the market after two wins this season in lesser company. At 9/4 he looks plenty short enough, given he’s not proven in this company.
Delta Work won this 12 months ago and is 3-3 over C&D. He wasn’t seen at his best when only fifth in the Gold Cup and likely needed his Down Royal reappearance. Better expected here and Jack Kennedy stays onboard.
Presenting Percy put in a career best when beating Kemboy & Monalee at Thurles last time. Kemboy who won this in 2018 should get closer given he was giving away race fitness to the winner.
Samcro won the Grade 1 Marsh Novices’ Chase at Cheltenhamin March. He will strip fitter for his Down Royal reappearance third behind Battleoverdoyen. Decent ground will suit the 8-year-old on his first start beyond 2m 5f. Each way claims and 3m could turn out to be his optimum trip.
A Plus Tard beat Chacun Pour Soi in the 2m 1f chase here 12 months ago. Big step up in distance from the minimum trip on his return to action. Doubts about today’s trip remain.
Melon was just a nose behind Samcro at Cheltenham. Third to stablemate Min in the John Durkan on his seasonal reappearance. Shapes like 3m could be interesting and could get into the money.
Allaho finished third, one place behind Minello Indo in the RSA Novices’ Chase. Ran no sort of race when 6th of 7 in the John Durkan last time. He’s surely better than bare form and is the choice of Paul Townend.
1pt each way – Samcro – 14/1 @ Ladbrokes (paying 4 places 1/5 odds)
Limerick
2:45 – Tim Duggan Memorial Handicap Chase (Grade B) – 2m 3 ½ f
A strong field of 16 are set to go to post for this handicap chase. You can make a strong case for half of the field.
Off You Go has a race in him off his present mark. He’s been doing his racing over fences over shorter is season but he won over this sort of distance over hurdles and looks worth a go. Needs to jump with more fluency than last time though.
Articulum put in an excellent effort when 3rd of 17 to an improver in a similar race at Navan on his seasonal reappearance earlier in the month. Just one win from 10 starts over fences but the 10-year-old can land a race like this if cutting out the jumping errors (fell in this race 12 months ago when sent off the 5/1 favourite).
Rocky’s Silver best form has come over further, finished runner-up in the 3m 4f Cork National last time. Two from two at Limerick and goes very well on heavy ground. Not totally dismissed off a light weight for a yard with a good record around here and is 1-2 in the past 14-days.
Westerner Point won this race in 2016 and again in 2018. The 11-year-old is vulnerable to younger legs but he’s 7 wins from 16 runs +26.5 10 placed with heavy in the going description. Given his liking for both C&D and going he’s got to be respected.
Dream Conti probably needs further than an extended 2m 3f but he’s only had three starts over fences and looks capable of more progress in the sphere. Capable conditional takes off a handy 5lb and the 7-year-old looks feasibly weighted.
Elwood was a steady improver over fences last season. Not in the same form so far this season and unseated his rider at Navan last time. Stays 3m so no issues on the stamina front.
Burning Ambition very useful in Hunter Chases, finished runner-up in the Aintree Foxhunters in April 2019. This looks the 9-year-old’s ideal trip and he gets the first-time blinkers today. Each way claims off a competitive mark if the headgear has the desired effect.
The Long Mile has improved for going handicap chasing with form figures of 111F. Two of those wins came with heavy in the going description so issues with underfoot conditions. Fell in hot handicap chase at Punchestown on his return to action which isn’t the ideal preparation and does need to improve to win this.
The Goose Man was an improving handicap chaser when last seen in action two seasons back. First start for 556-days and may not want the ground as testing as it’s likely to be.
1pt win – Articulum – 8/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
1pt win – Rocky’s Silver – 11/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Cheers
John