Irish look to dominate again
Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)
THE Baring Bingham (formerly the Ballymore) has a very similar cast of characters to the opening day’s Supreme at this stage, but usually takes slightly less winning and is run at more than half a mile further than that contest.
CALDWELL POTTER should be okay at the longer trip, as a strong-galloping brother/half-brother to Mighty Potter and French Dynamite, and his division-leading win in the Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown came on testing ground and in an excellent overall time.
PREDATORS GOLD was six and a half lengths behind Caldwell Potter that day but lacked that one’s experience and could progress again.
BALLYBURN trotted up slammed ordinary opposition in a maiden hurdle at Leopardstown in a time faster than the useful mare Jetara managed later on the card and looks potentially at least smart. The form received a boost from Cleatus Poolaw’s Naas win recently.
The turn of foot shown by MYSTICAL POWER in his Moscow Flyer win at Punchestown in January makes him a more obvious fit for the Supreme, but READIN TOMMY WRONG and ILE ATLANTIQUE (both rated 150) already have good form at the longer trip having been 1-2 first and second in a fast time at Naas, with Ile Atlantique ultimately paying for doing the donkey work.
CAPTAIN TEAGUE (rated 145, may go elsewhere) and the unbeaten GIDLEIGH PARK (141+) may be the pick of the apparently weaker British contingent at this stage.
STAY AWAY still
holds high hopes
Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase (Grade 1)
The French-trained Il Est Francais (rated 162+ 161+) leads the way among staying novice chasers but is set to sidestep Cheltenham so is not included. He won the Kauto Star at Kempton on St Stephen’s Day in brilliant fashion and a faster time than Hewick in the King George.
Top of those who remain is STAY AWAY FAY, who lost his unbeaten record over fences but none of his standing when a close third to Gold Cup contenders Capodanno and The Real Whacker in the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham, an effort good enough to go close in this race as often as not. Among other leading candidates on ratings, GAELIC WARRIOR may go elsewhere, while impressive Naas winner EMBASSY GARDENS and 155-rated SALVADOR ZIGGY are possibles for the National Hunt Chase.
Since announced as a non runner, GRANGECLARE WEST seemed to run pretty fast (not much with which to compare him) when sauntering to victory over 150-rated CORBETTS CROSS at Leopardstown on what was just his second start over fences and first at as far as three miles.
GREY DAWNING backed it up on the clock when trouncing 141-rated APPLE AWAY and 148-rated BROADWAY BOY in a Grade 2 at Warwick in January.
FACT TO FILE seemed to run fast (again, little with which to compare it) when an easy winner of a beginners at Leopardstown at Christmas, though little is known about his four rivals over fences. But he stepped up on that in the Grade 1 at the Dublin Racing Festival.
Advantage Fabiolo
in Champion cracker
Champion Chase (Grade 1)
There will sadly be no hat-trick bid from the brilliant Energumene, but another cracking Queen Mother Champion Chase is likely thanks to EL FABIOLO and JONBON.
Jonbon edged it when they met as novice hurdlers at Aintree but El Fabiolo emerged decisively on top in the rematch over fences in last season’s Arkle Chase at this venue, winning by five and a half lengths and in a fast time. The strong gallop and soft ground seemed to help El Fabiolo to assert his superiority that day.
Both are unbeaten since, with Jonbon advancing his claims slightly more than his rival but without quite bridging the gap.
Jonbon has beaten the somewhat disappointing 160-rated EDWARDSTONE twice this season but came unstuck behind the doughty ELIXIR DE NUTZ when jumping poorly in the Clarence House Chase at Cheltenham last time.
Meanwhile, while El Fabiolo gave weight and a comfortable beating to 152-rated FIL DOR in the Hilly Way at Cork and still looks to hold the advantage.
CAPTAIN GUINNESS was pulled up when favourite for that Leopardstown race but is better judged on his second to Energumene 12 months ago and to Jonbon (beaten three and three quarter lengths) at Sandown in April.
Last year’s Champion Chase fourth EDITEUR DU GITE has proved wildly inconsistent of late but can go a fast gallop when on song, as he was when holding on from NUBE NEGRA (rated 155 these days) and ELIXIR DE NUTZ (156) at Kempton in December.
BOOTHILL looked about to get into that Kempton race when falling five out and could yet improve on his base form/time rating of 158.
It’s a J day - Jalon or Jasmin?
Weatherbys Champion Bumper (Grade 1)
Given that no British-trained horse has finished closer than third in the seven years since one of their number last won the Champion Bumper, it is perhaps no surprise to find them absent from the leading ratings and the forefront of the betting for this year’s edition of a race first run in 1992.
Pick of the Irish at this stage looks to be JALON D’OUDAIRIES.
He beat established classy bumper performer Redemption Day (second to Facile Vega at Punchestown in April) by two and three quarter lengths at Leopardstown just before the end of the year. It was an ordinary overall time but it did produce some fast late splits.
JASMIN DE VAUX ran fast compared to the hurdle races on the same card when winning at Naas in January.
JOYSTICK’s defeat of ARTIC LANE and the victory of GOLDINTHEMOUNTAINS over MYWAYOFTHINKIN, both at the same course at around the same time, also rate pretty highly. , the former race more so on time on a day when the ground turned heavier as the card went on.
ROMEO COOLIO (rated 122+), MAUGHREEN (128+) and AURORA VEGA (132) are all well-regarded without quite achieving as much to date, the last two having their sex allowances added back on to those ratings.
LET IT RAIN (129), BRECHIN CASTLE (128) and MISTER MEGGIT (127) may be the pick of the Brits at this stage.