SAINT Roi (152+) put forward his Arkle credentials to win the feature Grade 1 Chase on the opening day at Leopardstown as he turned Navan form around with Fil D’Or (143).
The proximity of the overall time comparison with Final Orders (142) confirms the time figure is short of what would normally be required to win such a contest as Gavin Cromwell’s handicap winner was just 1.6secs slower overall, a figure supplemented by the final-circuit gap narrowing further to 0.2secs.
However, the data reinforce how the change in tactics clearly benefitted the J.P. McManus-owned gelding as the largest differential between the races was from the final ditch, where Fil D’Or made a shuddering error.
Mark Walsh produced Willie Mullins’ gelding to lead at the last on his way to a closing sectional of 63.6secs as he won going away.
Final Orders, who showed his versatility in stepping down in trip from three miles, covered the same ground in 67.0secs.
Lossiemouth (130+) tanked her way through the Grade 2 Knight Frank Juvenile Hurdle on the way to winning with any amount in hand. While an assessment of the overall race times portrays others to be faster on the day, the final circuit in isolation and closing sectional confirm Rich Ricci’s filly a worthy favourite for the Triumph Hurdle.
Paul Townend allowed the filly her head after jumping the final hurdle and she quickly put distance between herself and the field, covering the ground to the winning line in 46.1secs.
The day opened with High Definition (145+) utilising his group-level flat speed to record the quickest overall time, yet his closing sectional of 47.9secs was much slower than Lossiemouth who was also 0.2secs quicker over the final circuit.
Tullypole Annie (124) looked to be the closest to High Definition on race times, although the change in course configuration for the concluding hurdle race saw Peter Flood’s filly at an advantage over the other winners.
She was 3.2secs slower on the final circuit and sectional timee was 47.7secs.
Dark Raven (115) finished his race in 47.3secs as along with Doctor Bravo (112) they put plenty of distance between themselves and their rivals.
Limerick
At Limerick the feature race of the season, the Faugheen Novice Chase, went the way of Gerri Colombe (135+), who proved toughest in the usual demanding conditions associated with Greenmount Park at Christmas.
The early exchanges of the Grade 1 contest were slow, which reflected in there being little to choose between the two chases when adjusting the performances for distance.
However, there is clear separation through the final circuit as Gordon Elliott’s gelding was 6.4secs quicker than the impressive Bonnie Kellie (120+).