First part of a review I'm doing on the card today. Mainly to prove to myself what I can do without the influence of work, women or alcohol. Anyway...
Maiden Hurdle (1.10): Rite Of Passage (3/10f) was a warm order to get his hurdling career off to a winning start and duly obliged with a facile 3l victory over Grey Soldier. Dermot Weld’s charge hurdled more than adequately throughout, travelling strongly behind early leader Vardas Partner in a race run at a relatively generous gallop for a race of its type. The only moment of worry for favourite-backers came swinging into the straight, when Rite Of Passage was carried wider than ideal by previous faller Redzer Gazgoff. Robbie McNamara soon had the son of Giant’s Causeway back on an even keel, however, and he quickened decisively away from the last to record a ready success. As far as Cheltenham targets go, the Neptune Investments Novices Hurdle appeals more than the Supreme. He promises to stay 2m5f (especially on good ground) and his turn of foot would be a potent asset over 2m5f. Wherever he goes, he will certainly have to improve significantly on the bare form of today’s success, though he is almost certain to do so.
Grey Soldier was flattered by his proximity to the winner but ran a good race once again, travelling well into the straight before proving no match for the winner. It’s difficult to assess whether this represented an improvement on his second to Prince Of Fire, though he stuck to his task well and may be capable of further improvement on better ground. He has travelled noticeably well throughout both of his races over hurdles, and may be of some interest to in-running punters, though he is almost certain to be a short price if he shows up in anything other than a well above average maiden hurdle.
Fully Funded ran a creditable race on his first start for Noel Meade, keeping on nicely into third. As always with Meade horses improvement can be expected on his next start over hurdles, with his flat form suggesting that a longer trip may well be within his compass over hurdles. There was little obvious promise amongst the others, though Rayhani hinted at ability, particularly as he was done no favours by the fall of Redzer Gazgoff, having to work his way back into the race before keeping on at one pace to finish fifth. Given that he seemingly showed his best on a sound surface on the flat, he might be one to keep an eye on in a handicap on better ground.
Irish Arkle (1.45): An Cathaoir Mor (7/1) took another step up the ladder in taking this under a cracking hold-up ride from David Casey, though there must be a strong suspicion that his success was owing in no small-part to the blistering pace at which the race was run from the off. Though that view isn’t necessarily endorsed by the final time (13.60 seconds above standard), that would seem to suggest more that the pace fell apart than that there was none there at all. Such a view is further bolstered by the ease with which An Cathaoir Mor drew up to the leading group between the last two flights. That is not to say that Henry De Bromhead’s charge is anything other than a serious horse when the pieces fall into place, merely that he is unlikely to find many races to suit his running style as he did today.
Sportsline arguably emerges with just as much credit as the winner having been close to the pace throughout on only his second start over fences. Jumping well in the main, he travelled well into the straight and picked up from the back of the last only to be swamped by the runner-up close home. Given that he was the only one of the horses that raced close to the pace to be involved at the death, he deserves serious credit for this performance, arguably enhancing his Arkle credentials. The fact that his trainer has described him as a free-going (has raced close to the pace every start to date) sort is something of a worry in an Arkle, where there will once again no doubt be any shortage of pace on. Despite that, the 20/1 on offer is a fair price indeed.
Take The Breeze was far from disgraced in third having made a serious blunder three from home that effectively put paid to his chances. In any case he certainly didn’t seem ideally suited to the relative test of speed that this race presented. Whilst there must be question marks over whether he is up to Grade 1 level, if he is it will certainly be over a longer trip (has already stayed 2m4f) with a greater emphasis on stamina. He makes no appeal whatsoever for either Cheltenham or Aintree. Zaarito, who may well have been suited by the run of the race, crashed out at the third. Though it was hard to see the fall given the camera angle, he does lack a degree of physical scope of a typical chaser. His ability to jump at speed thus must be a worry in top races. Major Finnegan ran a creditable race having been on the pace throughout. He seems suited to being allowed to bowl along over fences (though that counted against him today), having frequently pulled very hard over hurdles when held up, albeit in slowly run races. He is a better chaser than a hurdler and can win decent races when his sights are lowered.
