Hi all,
The big race focus moves across the Irish Sea for the next couple of days. ITV are covering eight races live this afternoon. Four from Leopardstown and two each from Catterick & Leicester. I will start today’s preview at where else but Leopardstown. As ever my betting advice is at the end of the main piece.
Leopardstown
1:10 – Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle (Qualifier) – 3m
I tend to swerve Pertemps Series Qualifiers for betting purposes but its live on ITV and some of you may be interested in having a punt. The race has attracted a maximum field of 28 which makes an even more tricky puzzle to solve. However, I’m going in big time here.
Gentlemansgame is the least experienced hurdlers in the field. The 5-year-old must carry top-weight of 11-10. Which will be no easy task. However, he has a touch of class as he showed when 2nd of 8 in a Grade 1 novice hurdle at the Punchestown Festival when last seen in action in April. Won first time up last season so can go well lay off.
A Great View might be a 10-year-old but he’s run well on both starts this autumn. Including when doing his best work at the finish when a 2 ½ lengths second of 23 to Commander of Fleet at Navan last time. Was beaten a short head in this race in 2017 and can go close again.
Given the form of the Willie Mullins yard you can’t easily dismiss the claims of Maze Runner. The 6-year-old won a 22 runner C&D handicap hurdle in February, off 10lb lower. He ran with credit on the flat over the summer & autumn, including finishing 3rd of 30 in the Irish Cesarewitch at the Curragh in October. Goes well in big fields, is effective in soft ground and was still in contention when making a mistake three out at Navan (A Great View 2nd) back over hurdles last time.
Coltor, trained by Dermot Weld, showed useful form on the level last flat season, including winning the valuable amateur riders handicap (2m 1f) at the Galway Festival. First run over hurdles for the 4-year-old since finishing a 6 lengths 5th of 22 to Jeff Kidder in Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham Festival. In the mix on his first start over 3m.
1:45 – Dornan Engineering Christmas Hurdle (Grade 1) – 3m
Eleven are set to meet the starter for the first of the Grade 1 races. Flooring Porter won this race 12 months ago. Before going on to make all in the Stayers Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. He pulled up in the Grade 1 won by Klassical Dream at the Punchestown Festival on his final start of last season. Was in the lead and going well when falling two out in the Grade 2 Lismullen Hurdle at Navan last month. If none the worse for that mishap will back a bold bid for back-to-back wins in the races.
Flooring Porter wasn’t at his best in the Grade 1 Champion Stayer Hurdle won by Klassical Dream. The 7-year-old who had won 2019 Supreme Novices Hurdle was racing in the first-time hood and was also having his first start for 16 months. He proved at Punchestown that he was well suited to 3m and a win here could see him become clear favourite for the Stayers Hurdle in March.
2:20 – Savills Chase (Grade 1) – 3m
Just the eight have declared for the race of the day, Willie Mullins saddles four and Gordon Elliott three. However, neither have the favourite which is the Henry De Bromhead trained A Plus Tard. A Plus Tard made an impressive seasonal return when running away with the Betfair Chase at Haydock last month. The 7-year-old won this race last year when getting up in the final strides to beat Kemboy before finishing runner-up in the Gold Cup at Cheltenham. He’s the one they must beat.
Kemboy loves Leopardstown. Not only did he finish ½ length behind a Plus Tard in this race last season but he also won this in 2018. He likely needed the run when well behind stablemate Allaho in the Grade 1 John Durkan Chase, over an inadequate 2m 4f, at Punchestown earlier in the month. Better expected back here.
Delta Work won this in 2019. His form figures at Leopardstown are 111U with the unseat coming in this race last year. He probably needed the run when a 5 ¾ length 4th of 5 to Frodon in Ladbrokes Champion Chase at Down Royal on his seasonal reappearance.
Melon was a 2-length 3rd of 14 in last year’s race. The 9-year-old doesn’t find winning easy but he was an encouraging 5 ¼ length 3rd of 10 to Allaho in John Durkan last time.
Janidil put in a career best when 2-length runner-up to Allaho in John Durkan last time. The 7-year-old has only had six starts over fences and could be capable of better. He stays 2m 4f well enough but 3m is unknown territory for him stamina wise.
2:55- Ballymaloe Relish Beginners Chase – 2m 5f
Galopin Des Champs makes his much-anticipated debut over fences. The Willie Mullins trained 5-year-old won last season’s Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March. He’s got some size about him and should make up into a high-class novice chaser.
He faces some decent rivals they include stable Blue Sari. The 6-year-old lost his way over hurdles after a making a winning debut over hurdles two seasons back. He made a promising chase debut when ¾-length 2nd of 18 to Farouk d’Alene in a Navan beginners chase earlier this month.
Gordon Elliott likely provides the main opposition to Galopin Des Champs with Fury Road. Fury Road has the best form over fences so far. Runner-up to the smart Gabynako on his chase debut he’s since gone onto finish 1 ½ length 3rd of 8 in the Grade 1 Drinmore Novice Chase at Fairyhouse. A smart staying hurdler he’s made a solid start to his chase career but likely needs the first time cheekpiece’s to bring out more improvement.
Its more moderate fair at Leicester and Catterick but its good to see both cases getting their day in the sun ITV.
I have had quick look at three of the races.
Leicester
2:45 – Somekindofstar looks to have returned to action as good as ever based on his 1 length 2nd of 8 at Fontwell three weeks ago. A winner over C&D in March he looks interesting in the first-time visor.
Rob The Getaway also gets the addition of the first-time headgear in his case the cheekpieces. The 8-year-old is just 1lb higher than his last winning mark and can go close if the headgear has the desired effect. Trainer had a winner at Huntingdon Boxing Day and is 2-3 in the past 14-days.
3:20 – Its heavy on the hurdle course which must be of concern for backers of Natural History who is probably on a decent mark.
No ground concerns for Mcgowan’s Pass. The 10-year-old will be better for his seasonal reappearance 22 ½ length 7th of 11 at Haydock 27-days ago. That was first run for the Jennie Candlish yard and he looks on a winnable mark.
It will be interesting to see if the money arrives for Friary Rock who is having his first start for new trainer Laura Morgan and get the addition of the first-time hood today.
The 13-year-old Applesandpierres is a moody sort but he did win this race in 2019 and is 2-2 over C&D on heavy ground so can’t be totally dismissed despite big odds.
Catterick
1:25 – No Cruise Yet looked a useful enough staying handicap chaser in this sort of grade when winning at Sedgefield (soft) 25-days ago and has big claims despite a 6lb rise in the weights.
Sigurd won this race 12 months ago although he was a lot lower in the weights that day. He went on to win over C&D the following a month and at Wetherby, in March off 5lb lower. Hasn’t been in form on either start this autumn but his C&D form brings him into contention should he bounce back to last season’s best.
Eagle De Guye was beaten by more than a lack of fitness when a well beaten 9th of 10 Ayr last month. That was his first start for ten months but looked a hard ride. The tongue tie returns here and he also gets the addition of the first-time visor. Today’s 3m 1f distance should suit the 7-year-old who does look on a workable mark.
Betting Advice:
Leopardstown
1:10 – 1pt win – Coltor 1pt win – 8/1 @ Coral, 1pt win – Maze Runner – 11/1 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook and 1pt win – A Great View – 14/1 @ Bet365
2:20 – 1pt win – Kemboy – 11/1 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook
Leicester
2:45 – 1pt win – Somekindofstar – 13/2 @ Bet365 and 0.5pts win – Rob The Getaway – 16/1 @ Bet365
3:20 – 0.5pts win – Applesandpierres – 33/1 @Bet365
Cheers
John