A good first-day thanks to Commander Of Fleet – who might well now go for the Albert Bartlett – and the nap, Le Richebourg. Let’s hope for another good day today, and also all horses to come back safe, with commiserations to Henry De Bromhead.
12.40 – 2m2f Irish Stallion Farms EBF Paddy Mullins Mares Handicap Hurdle (Grade B) (4yo+): Plenty in with a strong chance but the best mark has probably been given to Sassy Diva, who ran into a very smart horse in the shape of Honeysuckle before Christmas. A mark of 116 is fair on that evidence and a narrow defeat to Tintangle reads quite well. Sapphire Lady, sixth in a very smart event last time (Cut The Mustard seventh) might be next best, back against her own sex and back up in trip here. Sinoria ought to be strongly involved.
Advice: 1 pt each/way Sassy Diva (6/1 general), 1 pt each/way Sapphire Lady (8/1 Bet365)
1.15 – 2m Tattersalls Ireland Spring Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 1) (4yo): Just get a stiff drink and pray for me and Sir Erec
Advice: No bet, pray
Already Advised: 1 pt each/way Sir Erec, 2019 Triumph Hurdle (20/1 Bet365, Boylesports),
1.50 – 2m Chanelle Pharma Novice Hurdle (Grade 1) (5yo+): Unlikely to be much between many of these but Klassical Dream made a fine stable debut when beating Entoucas, Dancing On My Own, and Vision D’honneur. The latter names of those ought to get a lot closer here – he was having his first run over hurdles and has since impressed when beating Elixir D’Ainay since then, but Klassical Dream was having his first run for 13 months and is the choice of Ruby Walsh. Aramon, a 10 length winner of the Future Champions Novice Hurdle.
Advice: 1 pt win Klassical Dream (5/2 general)
2.25 – 3m William Fry Handicap Hurdle (Grade B) (4yo+ 0-150): Total Recall was thrown in last year, when Oscar Knight was unlucky enough to run into him. He is now just 5lbs higher and may have been targeted at this.
Advice: 1 pt each/way Oscar Knight (14/1 general)
3.00 – 2m5f Flogas Novice Chase (Grade 1) (5yo+): Initially it was so hard to choose between Delta Work, La Bague Au Roi, and Winter Escape with Hardline also respected, but Delta Work is now a non-runner and La Bague Au Roi can take a big overseas scalp here.
Advice: 3 pts win La Bague Au Roi (evs general)
3.35 – Unibet Irish Gold Cup (Chase) (Grade 1) (5yo+): The good ground is a big positive for Road To Respect and if he gets a cleaner run than he did in the Savils Chase, he can confirm the form with Al Boum Photo and Bellshill. These three appear to tower above the opposition.
Advice: 2 pts win Road To Respect (9/4 general)
4.10 – 2m5f Abbey International Leopardstown Handicap Chase (Grade A) (5yo+): Any Second Now’s original plan had been the Paddy Power, but he ran out of stamina late on there and this ought to suit him much better. Vieux Morvan was just ahead of him there and was second last season when the ground was that much softer and on a sounder surface, he can go well.
Advice: 1 pt each/way Any Second Now (7/1 Paddy Power), 1 pt each/way Vieux Morvan (9/1 Bet365, Hills)
4.40 – 2m Coolmore N.H. Sires Irish EBF Mares I.N.H. Flat Race (Grade 2) (4-7yo): There’s a case for saying that Rebel Og was unsuited by the way the race developed when beaten in a November bumper at Punchestown. The form of that might still be the strongest on offer here and she had previously won her opening bumper by 17 lengths, beating Neptune, a subsequent bumper winner. Santa Rossa was an impressive winner at Fairyhouse and the rest of the field looks considerably more exposed.
Advice: 1 pt win Rebel OG (11/4 general)
Ante Post Advice: 1 pt each/way Commander Of Fleet, 2019 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (10/1 general)
