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Stilvi Isn’t the supreme novice and champion hurdle run over the same course and distance on the same day? So how can you say al ferof wouldn’t finish halfway in the champ when he racked up a time quicker than hurricane fly on the same day and c&d???
Horses in the Supreme Novices carry 3 lbs less than those running in the Champion.
This race was the plan for Hurricane Fly last year but he had to be pulled out at the last minute because he had a cough. The Hattons Grace wasn’t on the agenda until it was pushed back because of the weather.
I’d say he’s only entered in it this year as a precaution. Morgiana/December Festival Hurdle/Irish Champion/Cheltenham/Punchestown looks like the plan all things being equal.
He’s a nice horse but I’d be surprised if the Supreme Novices winner ran in that race on Friday. I doubt he’ll be the top Irish novice by the end of the season let alone in the UK too.
Waiting for the likes of Samain, Waaheb and a few more graduates from the p2p field to come out myself before making a judgement on the novices.
Expect he’ll be put away for the spring now. He needs better ground and is unlikely to get it in Ireland anyway for races like the MCR. Maybe races like the Ladbroke at Ascot and the Tote Gold Trophy might come under consideration if he’s kept on the go.
Presume the main target will be either the County Hurdle or maybe even the Coral Cup.
Sir Des Champs is entered at Punchestown on Saturday.
Nice introduction for Gift Of Dgab at Limerick today.
Grand Crus very impressive, but it was only a novice chase in November and the form may not be that good. Madness to see him entered in the Betfair, I’ve seen too many promising novices ruined by being too highly tried. Dawn Run was the only lone to get away with it, and that only in the short-term
Especially considering his main danger didn’t even get around.
We have this speculation annually now regarding novices stepping up to take on the established horses – Hurricane Fly in 2009, Dunguib in 2010, Cue Card and Time For Rupert last season. Now we have Grand Crus and I’m certain there’ll be whispers about Peddlers Cross going for the Champion Chase before long. Novice races are there for a reason.
I’m hearing rumours that Pandorama is out for the season.
Nice reappearance from Quel Esprit on Saturday. Mickey mouse race but not a semblance of a mistake which was good to see.
Morgiana Hurdle
Hurricane Fly @ 1/2 (Paddy Power)
€500 win
Have outlined my reasoning on the thread in the Big Races section. Can see this race cutting up big time and the only concern is that he starts looking around himself after the last wondering why Solwhit isn’t there!
Half the entries are Gigginstown
Vibes after Navan today are that Bog Warrior will run. First Lieutenant is unlikely to run and will probably take in another minor event before stepping up in grade at Christmas. Last Instalment would be interesting if it turned up heavy. Sir Des Champs would want to be running in a beginners next weekend to have any chance of lining up here. Willie has run horses first time up in this grade before but after what happened to Mikaed D’Haguenet last year, I doubt he’ll do it again.
The 2009 renewal was only soon after Hurricane Fly had been gelded and he was lit up like a Christmas tree that day for whatever reason. His reappearance last year in the Hattons Grace was flawless.
Thousand Stars is more likely to go to Fairyhouse I’d have thought. Read a quote from Harrington recently that Oscars Well is likely to go straight to Fairyhouse too with Murphy confirming after the Lismullen today that VLV will join them. Unaccompanied will hardly run on her third successive weekend and So Young didn’t live up to the hype at either Cheltenham or Punchestown.
With only Pittoni to beat so, 1/2 looks very reasonable IMO.
Dylan Ross: -€150
Whatwillwecallher: +€150
Moon Dice: +€75
Fingal Bay: +€110P/L: +€1349.62
Dubawi
Darley are taking the piss with that one. Much rather Exceed And Excel at those fees.
1:40 Navan
Dylan Ross @ 6/4 (Ladbrokes)
€150 win
Hard to look beyond Meade & Carberry at their local track. This horse has always been highly thought of and is essentially a second season novice because he fell at the last (when set to break his maiden) last Christmas. He’s had plenty of schooling and experience which he should put to good use here.
1:50 Limerick
Whatwillwecallher @ EVS (Paddy Power)
€150 win
Progressive in bumpers last year and her running style suggested that this trip will be perfect. Tyner’s horses are running well and this mare could be a shrewd purchase for McManus.
3:30 Cheltenham
Fingal Bay @ 11/10 (Paddy Power)
€100
Plenty to like about his two starts so far. This is obviously tougher but he should take all the beating.
I know you’re a big fan of Quel Esprit IC, and he was tanking when coming down in the RSA, but I think Saludos could give him a right rattle tomorrow.
I’d be hoping he’ll have come on for the run at Down Royal, and both horses will appreciate the cut in the ground. Quel Esprit has the unknown factor about him, in that he could be anything, but Saludos rarely runs a bad race. I’d still like to get 2/1 on him though, considering he has to give Quel Esprit 4lbs.
Never really warmed much to Saludos THM. He looks a decent handicap/listed class horse but there aren’t many opportunities for those sort of horses in Ireland compared to England where there’s a good 2 mile handicap chase every other weekend.
Quel Esprit has a hell of an engine and will take a bit of beating over fences if they can build his confidence over the obstacles. Should be a nice winners of two somewhere for him now before a crack at one of the bigger races around Christmas time.
