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One of the biggest staying chases of the season in Ireland, and despite being seen as more of a Grand National trial, the last 2 renewals have thrown up the runners up in that seasons Gold Cup, namely On His Own, and Djakadam, both for Willie Mullins.
If looking for a potential Gold Cup candidate this time, then the very promising Wounded Warrior might be the one, and he also looks a big player if he takes his chance here. However, he also holds an entry in The Kinloch Braes Chase, so poses obvious risks from an Antepost standpoint, not to mention being one of a staggering 13 entries from Gigginstown.
Indeed, half the entries, including the majority of the Gigginstown runners, hold various engagements over the next week, with The Classic Chase & Coral.ie Chase causing particular confusion, so not a race to look at in too much depth, with the very obvious risk of “doing your dough”.
I’m siding with a horse who has taken his chance in a Gold Cup, but ultimately came up short, in Boston Bob. He’s a horse who’s disappointed a few people, but despite having a couple of flops to his name, he’s got some decent performances behind him, and I think he’ll relish this test, against slightly lesser opposition. He could easily shoulder top weight, if First Lieutenant defects, but has the class to carry it, and from the Willie Mullins yard, I could easily see him make a mockery of the 25’s with Corals. He’ll come here fresh, and with this being his only immediate target, I’ve got to bet him. Just hope he makes it.
From an each way point of view, I like The Job Is Right. He ran a blinder for me in this race last year, being the only horse to give Djakadam a run for his money, but he eventually paid the price, unseating at the last. After a couple of “no shows” he’s ran some very sound races this season, winning a competitive hurdle a couple of months back, before a very encouraging 5th in The Paddy Power. He was last seen at Punchestown on Sunday, running in a decent 2 and a half mile hurdle, won by Diamond King, and a test like this should suit him a lot more, and he’s well worth a risk each way at 14’s.
Obvious danger is market leader Ucello Conti, trained by Gordon Elliot, and his stablemate, Riverside City, who won The Troytown, looks overpriced at 20’s.
I’ll probably look at the field once it becomes more clearer after the weekends races are run, but more than happy with Boston Bob & The Job Is Right in the meantime.
Thanks for that Bobby, I really like this race but it is a bit of a nightmare.
I haven’t looked at it in depth yet, but there are a couple that are of interest
to me at this time. I like to look for something up and coming, as opposed to
something fully exposed.You have already mentioned RIVERSIDE CITY who has looked like an improver, winning
The Troytown off a mark of 115 and then a decent run with Nina Carberry onboard in
the very competitive Paddy Power Chase, finishing a running on 6th, after a couple
of mistakes towards the finish, off 122. He is only raised 1lb for this and will
carry bottom weight of 9-5 (2 lbs out of the h’cap)The other that catches my eye at this point, and who I’m most interested in at this
point is NICKNAME EXIT, also trained by Gordon Elliot. He is a 6yr old open to plenty
of improvement and it seemed the penny dropped with him in December when he absolutely
annihilated the field in a handicap at Navan in December, taking it up between the last
2 and romping to a 24l win. He was rightly murdered by the handicapper and raised 14lbs
for that.He came back out on JAN 1st, I think that race, where he ran a reasonable 3rd, was being
used to get him spot on for this as they placed him in a hurdle race, presumably to protect
his mark. If he has improved at all since his December win, he could be very interesting.I’m going to wait until the jockey arrangements are know. Jack Kennedy rode RIVERSIDE CITY
in THE TROYTOWN and also NICKNAME EXIT when he won as he liked in December. His 5lb claim
would more than make up for RIVERSIDE CITY being 2 lbs out of the h’cap, and NICKNAME EXIT
who has 9-10 allocated, would be running off the bottom weight of 9-5. I think that he might
just be thrown in carrying that weight.NICKNAME EXIT has plenty of 16s about at the moment, RIVERSIDE CITY is generally 16/1 but
Paddy Power stand 20/1 at the moment, 4 points better than any firm. Although I said I’m
waiting for the jockey arrangements, I’m inclined, as I’m typing this up, to chance taking
that as he has a decent chance and I don’t see PP holding that price much longer.I might have to have a rethink once all is known and all runners are confirmed.
Good luck to all, it’s a toughie
Cheers Graham, yeah it’s a tough nut to crack alright, but I always like to give it a go.
I’ll definitely add Riverside City to my 2 if he makes it, in fact I just hope the 3 of them make it, though the weather forecast wouldn’t encourage me about Boston Bob. If Riverside doesn’t make it, I’ll be three handed with My Murphy who around 25’s at the moment.
Nice shout with Nickname Exit, and if the heavens continue to open, he’s tucked away nicely down the bottom.
Jack Kennedy is on fire just now, and you have to give a serious look to whatever he’s booked on at the moment.
I never did get round to giving it a proper look, but the heavily supported Ballycasey is obviously of interest, along with Buckers Bridge, Rule The World, Azorian, and particularly My Murphy.
Would anyone be surprised if ballycasey used this to perhaps try get a lower mark for the grand national? Couple of terrible runs before the time could see him drop a couple of pounds which might make all the difference. I could be miles off but I wont back him. Same could be the case with Boston bob. RULE THE WORLD is the one for me. Mouse Morris trained with Jack Kennedy on board
Having planned to back him in both the Welsh National and last week at Warwick now is not the time to desert Folsom Blue. As a saver I’m going to go each way on the old boy Vics Canvas who for a moment looked like winning the Becher chase LTO. For a 13 year old he doesn’t have much mileage on the clock and if held up that little bit longer can at least run in to a place.
Like you Bobby, I had hoped that RIVERSIDE CITY would have made the final 18. I’m
not sure he’s going to get there now, needing two to pull out, but I’m still keeping
my fingers crossed. I’ve not heard what time the cut off point is for reserves tomorrow,
perhaps someone can put me right on that.In any case, I’ve already bet RIVER CITY at 20/1 with PP, and NICKNAME EXIT at 16/1.
If RC doesn’t make it I’ll be sticking to NE as my only bet. I had hoped that Jack
Kennedy would have been on either of my two, having won on both, but connections
obviously have different thoughts on the matter. I don’t blame them on that count
as Rule The World has a very obvious chance.I see Chris Timmons is on NICKNAME EXIT, I haven’t seen much of Timmons so I don’t
know how much of a help or hindrance that will be. The 5lb allowance puts him on a
nice weight of 9-5, but that’s as positive as I can be about the booking. Maybe Tommy
with his knowledge of Irish racing might have something to say on that.I’ve said I won’t go in again, but I know what I’m like. If RIVER CITY doesn’t make it,
I might just have a last minute plunge on something…..I never learn
The money went down on Ballycasey & Folsom Blue- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.