Hi all,
Inside today’s main piece, I look back on Sunday at the Dublin Racing Festival (DRF) and the best of Saturday’s action in Britain.
Leopardstown
Sunday at the DRF provided some excellent sport and food for thought regarding the Cheltenham Festival.
Final Bubble Burst
For many punters, Final Demand looked a “good thing” for the Brown Advisory. That bubble burst on Sunday.
So impressive on chase debut it all unravelled. He never jumped well in the Grade 1 Ladbrokes Novice Chase. He made awkward shapes in the air and went out like a light two out. Something clearly wasn’t right. Willie Mullins now has little time to fix him if Cheltenham remains the target.
The race went to his stablemate Kaid d'Authie, who has now won his last two over fences. He improved again with the return of the cheekpieces and now belongs firmly in the Brown Advisory picture.
So does the runner-up Western Fold. Back from a short break, he may have needed the run. He finished is race off strongly and will benefit from a return to three miles.
Talk The Walk
Talk The Talk made amends for his last hurdle Christmas mishap with a big performance in the Grade 1 Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle. He made good late ground, to nail Ballyfad and King Rasko Grey close to home.
I thought his jockey had left it too late to catch the front two who had been better positioned in a steadily run contest. That was a proper performance and the 3/1 available at the off looks generous now. Mind you he left in late and at the finish I thought he had finished second.
A stronger gallop, Cheltenham’s stiffer finish, and better ground will suit him. Old Park Star looks a machine, but Talk The Talk is a serious Supreme contender.
Bright Revenge
Two top-class mares fought out the Irish Champion Hurdle. Brighterdaysahead gained revenge on Lossiemouth for her Christmas defeat.
Lossiemouth never travelled with the same fluency as last time. She now looks nailed on to go for the Mares’ Hurdle rather than the Champion.
Brighterdaysahead looks set for the Champion Hurdle. She thrives at Leopardstown but is Cheltenham her track? We’ll find out next month.
Poniros ran a solid race in third, beaten 14¼ lengths. It was the Triumph Hurdler winner’s seasonal return. He will improve for it. Back on better ground, he could hit the frame in a weak renewal of the Champion Hurdle. The 25/1 available looks fair enough.
I saved Sunday’s best performance for last.
Majestic Majborough
There was never any doubt about Majborough’s engine. His jumping had been the issue. First-time cheekpieces and a positive ride changed everything on Sunday.
He delivered a dominant performance in the Grade 1 Ladbrokes Dublin Chase. He produced a fantastic round of jumping to put his five rivals to the sword. You can watch his win here.
His Champion Chase backers will feel much better now.
But the key question remains: can he repeat that perfromance on better ground at Cheltenham?
I’m not convinced. Softer ground helped him here and I wouldn’t want to take a short price about him in March.
Marine Nationale was well beaten in second, but he’s a different horse at the Cheltenham Festival. The ground was plenty soft enough for him here. Provided he gets his favoured underfoot conditions, I still prefer him to Majborough for the Champion Chase.
Sandown: Sixmilebridge Takes Control
Away from the Grade 1 action at the DRF, Sandown staged a domestic Grade 1 with the Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase (2m4f).
With Leopardstown abandoned, Paul Townend and Jack Kennedy travelled over to ride Kitzbuhel and Kala Conti. It proved a wasted journey. Impressive Kauto Star winner Kitzbuhelmade a mistake at the sixth and unseated Townend.
Kala Conti, unbeaten over fences coming into the race, completed but never travelled with much fluency. She appeared laboured and never threatened the all-the-way winner Sixmilebridge. Kielan Woods gave the winner a positive front-running ride and his jumping improved as the tempo increased.
It was a strong performance from Sixmilebridge, who stayed on powerfully to the line. He looks a Grade 1 novice chaser in the making. The question is where he goes at Cheltenham. The Brown Advisory looks the most likely route given how well he saw out the 2m4f, though the Arkle remains an option. Another interesting possible target would be the Jack Richards Novices’ Handicap over 2m4½f.
Elsewhere on the Sandown card, Jax Junior returned to winning ways in the Virgin Bet Every Saturday Money Back Handicap Chase (1m7½f). Trainer Lucy Wadham told the Racing Post the owners are keen on an Arkle tilt.
He’s a novice chaser going the right way, but the Arkle looks a step too far. The Grand Annual Handicap Chase feels a far more realistic target.
Pic Roc also bounced back to form when landing the Virgin Bet Masters Handicap Chase (3m). Once he hit the front, he gradually drew clear to win by 13 lengths. He’ll get a hike in the weights for this. The race also fell apart, with the well fancied Fortunate Man and Mr Vango both running well below form. The latter never travelled and was pulled up.
Musselburgh
The ground rode quicker than the official good to soft on day one of the Scottish Cheltenham Trials meeting.
JPR One defied top weight and a mark of 156 to land the feature bet365 Scottish Champion Chase. I was sweet on his chance if the ground stayed decent and advised him at 11/2 to subscribers on Saturday morning. He made his class edge tell and proved he stays 2m4f, at least on a sharp track like this. He now looks set for the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham, but he rates no more than a place contender back in Grade 1 company.
Elsewhere, Star Of Guiting followed up his New Year’s Day C&D success to land the Scottish County Hurdle. He handled the quicker ground well and is going the right way. There should be more races to be won with this progressive 5yo.
I was on last year’s winner Welsh Charger, who whipped around and unseated his jockey when the tapes went up. His trainer Alastair Ralph had better luck later on as Magna Victor gained a second C&D success. There should be more to come from this improving 7yo. Given his liking for this sharp two miles, connections may already be working back from next year’s Scottish County Hurdle.
It’s also worth noting that Shropshire-based trainer Alastair Ralph has an excellent record at Musselburgh – 7 winners from 12 runners (+64.83) over the past five years.
In Wednesday’s column, I’ll be looking back at Monday’s racing at the DRF, plus there will be a few future winners from Victor’s notebook.
Good luck with your Tuesday bets.
John