With the Cheltenham Competition solely ten days away, Sunday’s Irish conferences understandably have a low-key really feel to them, although that is to not say there aren’t a few respectable betting alternatives, with each Leopardstown and Wexford staging some attention-grabbing handicaps.
The function occasion on Leopardstown’s card is the Grade B Tri Equestrian Handicap Chase (16:50) over an prolonged 2m 5f, and with the Sportsbook paying 5 locations, it is a race that appears price getting caught into from an each-way perspective.
High weight – and certain favorite – Max Flamingo remains to be in his novice season over fences and has but to get his head in entrance in that sphere, although he has run some creditable races in defeat. He most lately got here to grief on his first foray into handicaps however had beforehand completed fourth (albeit effectively overwhelmed) to Fury Highway in Grade 1 firm at this observe over the Christmas interval.
Jerandme hasn’t want seen over fences since ending seventh at Kilbeggan in August however he has been in good from on the flat at Dundalk of late, successful at that observe in convincing trend on his most up-to-date begin. A mark of 129 would not look past him, and he is clearly in respectable coronary heart, although I might be just a little shocked if he did not discover a couple too robust again on this sphere.
Rightplacerightime has mixed hurdling and chasing to good impact this season however he was just a little disappointing when ending solely fourth of 5 as a well-backed favorite at Carlisle final time. Beforehand ridden fairly prominently, connections determined to undertake extra affected person techniques in that contest, which may effectively have been the rationale for his below-par exhibiting.
If ridden extra aggressively this time, It is totally probably that Rightplacerightime may bounce again to type, and his mark of 123 seems eminently workable.
J P McManus is doubly represented with Donkey Years and Winter Escape, the previous being the selection of the proprietor’s retained jockey Mark Walsh. This one was overwhelmed only a neck by Fakir D’alene at Thurles final time, the place he seemed to be just a bit outbattled by the winner having travelled like the most effective horse on the weights.
Donkey Years is 3lb higher off along with his conqueror for that beating and there should not be a lot between them as soon as once more. Fakir D’alene himself must put a poor exhibiting behind him right here after ending effectively held over this C&D on his most up-to-date begin, although it is potential that run got here a bit too quickly after his large effort when beating Donkey Years.
Fan De Blues the each-way play
Whereas all these beforehand talked about have sound probabilities, I will facet with the Willie Mullins-trained Fan De Blues, who was a Grade 3 winner over fences in the summertime.
He hasn’t actually gone on from that, although has run a few respectable races in defeat, and it would not be past the capabilities of his grasp coach to get him again to the form of type wanted to win a race equivalent to this.
Fan De Blues had a believable excuse for working poorly on his penultimate begin (misplaced tongue strap) and was unlucky when coming down in a very good handicap at Leopardstown final time. His higher type comes into sharper focus when these two races are disregarded, and he seems a stable each-way play, notably with the additional place out there.
Arctic Warrior to profit from drop in school
Over at Wexford earlier within the day, the 2m Micheal O’Murchadha Handicap Hurdle (15:55) is the spotlight of their card, and Willie Mullins has stable probabilities right here as effectively, being represented by Arctic Warrior and Gjoumi.
Arctic Warrior has been extremely tried in his quick profession so far, most lately when taking over the likes of Mighty Potter in Grade 1 firm final time. The son of Pastorius was within the technique of working effectively there when falling on the remaining hurdle and has a stable likelihood on that type. He would have completed final of the six runners there, however definitely would not have been overwhelmed too far.
Gjoumi was introduced down on his penultimate begin earlier than ending a distant second to Burn The Proof at Fairyhouse final time. He seems not more than pretty handled off a mark of 119 for this handicap debut.
It is most likely honest to say Henry De Bromhead has had a little bit of an up and down time along with his runners this season, although they seem like peaking simply on the time, and his Clifton Warrior may be very a lot revered with that in thoughts.
This ex-pointer was a winner on hurdling debut at Thurles in November earlier than posting a poor effort at Leopardstown over the Christmas interval. Nonetheless, he bounced again to type when runner-up to Rodaniche at Down Royal final time and deserves loads of respect on that exhibiting.
Blanketontheground and Goulane Chosen are others that come into the equation, the previous a winner when final seen however that was effectively over a 12 months in the past and he is entitled to be rusty. The latter is a constant performer however isn’t any spring rooster now as he enters his teenage years.
I’ve obtained this between the 2 Warriors, Arctic and Clifton, with desire for the Willie Mullins trainee, who’s taken to profit from the category reduction he will get right here having run effectively in notably higher firm.
