12.10 Sky Sports Racing Maiden Hurdle 2m4f35yds
Malinas Jack is an interesting runner here for Henry de Bromhead, whose representatives have been in rude health at the festival.Procured after two promising runs in bumpers last season, he was a shade disappointing at Punchestown, but could have a bright future.
Elite Charboniere will quite probably, however, take the beating. Running for the connections of Faugheen, he arrives in Ireland after winning a provincial bumper in February. He must be quite a nice specimen physically, having been bought for £155,000 at the sales subsequently.
The Red Menace rates another interesting contender. Unbeaten in bumpers, he should be a lot better for his hurdling debut around three months ago.
Selection: Elite Charboniere 5-4
12.40 Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle 3m
Rider Evan Daly was out of luck when his well-fancied mount fell early in yesterday's feature at Limerick but High Sparrow could put a smile on his face here. He first came to prominence when winning a bumper at Limerick’s Christmas Festival a year ago and his maiden hurdle win showed that he was progressing.
After a cracking run at Galway, he has been pretty disappointing, but he was backed off the boards at Navan last time, even in a race in which he faced De Name Escapes Me. His stable is in incredible form.
Pleasant Company is bound to be popular. A handicap chase winner off 139 for Willie Mullins in 2016, he has a favourable hurdles mark, but one wonders has he the toe for this sort of combat, this his first run since such a game defeat behind Tiger Roll in the English National.
Selections: High Sparrow 22-1
1.20 Ballymaloe Foods Beginners Steeplechase 2m5f
Zabana, Djakadam, Lord Windermere and Hidden Cyclone are among the recent winners of this race, but this year’s renewal is pretty trappy to put it mildly.
Bacardys promised the world earlier in his life but it is hard to know what to make of him at this stage and his Naas chase offering was pretty dire. It is now a year since he fell in this very race.
Tower Bridge won a Grade 1 over hurdles at the Dublin Racing Festival but ran a shocker on his chase debut at Punchestown. Nevertheless, he is preferred here at a big price.
If he can get back to anything like his hurdles form he should win and perhaps going back left-handed will be to his benefit too. Joseph O'Brien could win with a yak at the moment.
It is interesting that Borderline Chatho jumps a fence no sooner than he had won his maiden hurdle. He is a potentially smart chaser.
Selection: Tower Bridge 13-2
1.50 Grade 1 Squared Financial Christmas Hurdle 3m
It is a shame that Supasundae, who sent so close in this 12 months ago, is not here – but it is a race that nevertheless will claw at our emotions. Faugheen's return to this track, even if he is almost certain not to go off favourite, will ensure a big crowd.
One of the most popular horses in training, the ten-year-old looked a spent force for much of last season, that especially the case when he was pulled up over two miles at this meeting last year. That was an utterly abject performance and it looked as though he would never win again.
Willie Mullins stepped him up to three miles at last season's Punchestown Festival, when he produced an incredible performance from the front. That renders him a major player against Apples Jade, even if she is opposed with reluctance.
It is clear that Apples Jade was not herself for whatever reason towards the end of last season.
Gigginstown’s Eddie O’Leary believes she is coming back to herself now and, while one might pick holes in then opposition, her Hattons Grace demolition was still incredible stuff.
Selection: Faugheen 3-1
2.25 Irish Daily Star Christmas Handicap Hurdle 2m4f 35yds
It is two and a half years almost since Lake Takapuna was beaten narrowly over an extended two miles and six furlongs at Galway when trained by Jim Culloty.
All his three subsequent wins, one of them at Leopardstown, were over shorter, and he scored for Robbie McNamara at Sligo in September. Dermot Weld, in excellent form, might be able to exploit this favourable hurdles mark and stamina should not be an issue.
Mighty Stowaway is greatly feared. A likeable horse, his two chase wins this season render him theoretically well-in, whilst Serious Ego looks as though he will appreciate this interim distance, having tried two miles and three miles, his trainer Gordon Elliott having a quiet Christmas so far.
Selection: Lake Takapuna 7-1
3.00 Grade 1 Savills Steeplechase 3m
It seems a bit over-protective that Presenting Percy does not run here due to the ground, which can hardly be any faster than what he won on in a hack canter as a hurdler at the Cheltenham Festival – but I guess the likes of Pat Kelly does not come upon a Gold Cup horse often.
In any event, we have a race, with Road To Respect the bet of the day. I thought he produced a special performance at Down Royal, albeit against lesser rivals, and he won this race last year when still developing as a chaser. He is a superb jumper, the vibes could hardly be better, and I feel he is best going left-handed; indeed he won the race last year.
Gigginstown could and possibly should have sent the mare, Shattered Love, to Kempton for the King George. Instead, she could give the O’Leary brothers a 1-2 here. She could not go the pace of Min in the John Durkan but the way she ran on all the way to the wire was really likeable.
Bellshill is quite a talent too. There is no doubt that he was the best horse in the Irish National last year yet he was still able to rock up at Punchestown and win a Grade 1. I feel he is at his best on softer ground, but he is greatly feared.
Anibale Fly warmed up for this over an inadequate trip at Cork, shaping well enough. He likes this track and it would be dangerous to rule him out. Monalee probably has a fair bit to find against the senior chasers.
Selection: Road To Respect 2-1
3.35 Midland Legal Solicitors Flat Race 2m
The betting will reveal plenty here, with so little to go on, General Counsel an obvious starting point. His dam was a half-sister to Champion Bumper winner Joe Cullen, and he looks a likely sort, his stable having won this three times since 2011.
Hell On Earth is by the late Germany, sire of Samcro, and he has to be respected too. The only danger it would seem to the pair is Ash Hill, who met a potential star when fourth to Battleoverdoyen at Punchestown.
Note that connections of Hell On Earth should thus have a good idea of what is required to beat Ash Hill at least.
Selection: General Counsel 6-5
