Hi all,
A much better day on Monday with To Hard To Hold winning at Listowel and Red Gerry finishing third.
We have one of the first big National Hunt races of the autumn at Listowel this afternoon. The Kerry National, run over 3m, is the feature race of the Listowel Festival. There could be plenty of rain about at the venue today so it could be soft come post time.
Listowel
4:30 – Guinness Kerry National Handicap Chase (Grade A) – 3m
The inform Henry De Bromhead stable has two of the leading fancies in Plan Of Attack & Spyglass Hill. The former was ultra-consistent on his three starts last season. Finishing third in the Paddy Power and fourth in the Kim Muir at the Cheltenham Festival. Spyglass Hill was pulled up after making a bad mistake in the Galway Plate last time. Forgive that effort and you have progressive handicap chase last season on soft/heavy ground who will appreciate any rain that falls.
Doctor Duffy was the ante post favourite after wins at Kilbeggan & Ballinrobe (Mayo National). He remains progressive but has a 10lb rise in the weights to overcome after his Mayo National success.
At bigger prices Internal Transfer was fourth in this race 12 months before pulling up when favourite for the Munster National at Limerick. A winner here over hurdles in the past. This looks to have been the plan for the 9-year-old as he had recent spin over hurdles, and the yard has won this race three times since 2007.
Freewheeling Dylan could provide the pace to the race. He made all to win the Midlands National at Kilbeggan, off 5lb lower on his last start over fences. Has run twice over hurdles since. A previous C&D winner. He’s a good jumper and can’t easily be dismissed although this is a tougher race.
Verdict: There has been good support for Plan Of Attack in recent days but I just prefer stablemate Spyglass Hill, if the rain arrive sin time. At bigger odds you can’t rule out another big run from last years fourth Internal Transfer.
1pt each way – Spyglass Hill – 7/1 @ Paddy Power (paying 6 places 1/5 odds)
0.5pts each way – Internal Transfer – 14/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes (paying 4 places ¼ odds)
Cheers
John