What a great day's action we saw on Sunday over at Leopardstown; four Grade One races on the card while led to some real Cheltenham clues emerged from these. Some bubbles bursting and some coming out with reputations vastly enhanced, lets start with the first of these races: the Spring Juvenile Hurdle.
This 2 mile race was billed as a showdown between two all conquering yards. One we are fully used to seeing dominate the Irish jumping scene in Willie Mullins, represented by Ivan Grozny and one we are much more used to dominating the flat scene in the Aiden O'Brien yard who's McManus owned Plinth had defeated Ivan Grozny on their previous meeting. These horses were at the head of the market for the Triumph Hurdle come March but the races was taken by Guitar Pete, a 9/2 shot for the race. Dessie Hughes's charge won this very impressively and comparisons will be drawn with the yard's superstar Our Conor. Both trainer and jockey were very positive post-race regarding Guitar Pete's Triumph Hurdle chances, believing he is the type of horse, a real stayer, that will appreciate the test that the Triumph will present. Guitar Pete was trimmed from 20/1 into 8/1 and 10/1 depending where you look, with Ivan Grozny and Plinth pushed out to around 20/1 with most firms. Certainly Guitar Pete deserves his place towards the head of the market, he won this race in very taking style, and I wouldn't be too keen on laying the 10/1. One horse I previously put up for the Triumph Hurdle, John Quinn's Pearl Castle, is now a 16/1 shot and even though I do really like that horse I must say the 10/1 on Guitar Pete is a much more attractive proposition at the current prices. I really was impressed by what I saw today.
The second Grade One on the card saw The Tullow Tank clashing against fellow Supreme Novice's Hurdle hope Vautour. I didn't take as much out of this race as the opener, with Ruby Walsh giving us all a reminder of just what a good jockey he was as he rode Vautour from the front to win, with nothing else getting into the race. Danny Mullins had a bit of a shocker on TTT in my opinion and never looked like catching the winner after Danny let a gap open up and then tried hopelessly to close it in the home straight. Considering post race the talk was of how TTT would now go for the Neptune as opposed to the Supreme why Mullins appeared to ride TTT for speed is beyond me. Vautour got the run of the race here, something he won't get in the Supreme, and prices as short as 4/1 for the festival opener make absolutely no appeal to me. As mentioned in yesterday's blog I quite like First Mohican for that race at the current 20/1 available, but as regards the Deloitte Hurdle I won't be taking much out of the race for the Supreme. If anything I'll be taking the 11/1 available on TTT for the Neptune as on today's evidence the step up in trip could bring about an improved performance and he is certainly not one to rule out of festival thoughts even after defeat today.
Moving on to the three runner Novice's Chase at 2:45 we saw the RSA favourite Ballycasey get the beating of Don Cossack and Carlingford Lough in a quite unsatisfactory 2 mile 5 furlong race. This wasn't much of a stamina test but for those who had taken the 8/1 available pre-race on Ballycasey for the RSA it was certainly a relief to see him back on the racetrack, and he is now as short as 5/1 in the betting for that race. The layers a touch excessive in that price cut in my opinion. For me though I was surprised to see Carlingford Lough pushed out to 14/1 for RSA glory. This is one horse who is a proven Grade 1 winner with proven stamina who will not mind the hustle and bustle of a championship race at Cheltenham. 14/1 is too big, and I think some people are put off because the horse has won big handicaps and are still associating him with that type of race. Make no mistake about it Carlingford Lough has had the beating of some very nice horses in his time and 14/1 is a price I wouldn't put anyone off getting involved in e/w for Cheltenham glory in the RSA.
The final Grade One of the day saw a fantastic round of jumping from the front as Last Instalment ran his opposition into the ground to win the Irish Hennessy in brilliant style. This was a fantastic story, I always love seeing horses come back from injury layoffs and proving they still retain all their past abilities. A 40/1 shot pre-race, Last Instalment is now as short as 8/1 for Gold Cup glory in March and the blue riband race was confirmed as the target providing he comes out of this race OK and the ground has a bit of give in it come March. Given the current weather the latter shouldn't be much of a concern and I would advise anyone attracted by the prices for the Gold Cup to just wait off a couple of days. Last Instalment is a fragile horse and it would be wise to ensure his well being after this race before getting involved Ante-post. Of the rest I have to touch on Tidal Bay who produced his customary running-on display to get 2nd place. Paul Nicholls has really turned the lovable rouge around and he is a 14/1 shot for the Grand National in April, for which the weights come out this week. I probably won't be able to resist getting involved for the Aintree marathon as I just love the horse and it would be such a fantastic way to see out his career.
It was an absolutely cracking Sunday of racing and very enjoyable to blog about, I hope you have enjoyed reading my thoughts and I'd love to hear yours!
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