Andy Holding has his eye on four races today.
12.40 Leopardstown
A truly brilliant day’s action from the Dublin venue with hopefully plenty of meaningful Cheltenham pointers, beginning with what looks an extremely competitive mares’ handicap. Willie Mullins had a terrific afternoon yesterday and his Contingency will no doubt be a warm order to keep up her unbeaten record off what could turn out to be a very favourable mark on handicap debut. However, at the same time, she still remains a largely unknown quantity in many respects and preference at the morning odds goes in the favour of ALLETRIX (best price 13-2) who at least arrives here with more up-to-date form. For a horse rated just 116, she ran miles above her expectations behind the massively impressive, Laurina, in a quality Grade 3 contest at Fairyhouse last week and it’s pretty safe to say that if she runs anywhere the same level here seven days on, she surely has to play a significant role. Although the five-year-old finished behind the likes of Court Artist and Barra at Wexford back in October, Jessica Harrington’s horses weren’t in the greatest of nick at the time but with the yard back in form and trip and ground to suit, the only negative would be the fact she could bounce off the back of that big effort on the speed figures with only a week to recover.
13.50 Leopardstown
Talked about in glowing terms by everyone associated with him, Samcro is arguably one of the big star attractions for racegoers this afternoon, and having looked imperious on each of his five starts to date – including two over hurdles – it will come as a massive blow to many if Gordon Elliot’s charge doesn’t deliver the goods. Having watched the racing in the flesh here yesterday, the one noticeable feature about the track for which you don’t probably appreciate on TV is how stiff the uphill climb from the home turn is to the line, and in essence, that should really suit the son of Germany, who is seen as a future Gold Cup horse in years to come. Another factor about many that ran well yesterday is course form, and that previous knowledge definitely brings PALOMA BLUE (best price 33-1) into the equation in the ‘without the favourite’ betting. Good enough to finish runner-up to the ill-fated, Fayonagh, in the Grade 1 Champion bumper at last season’s Punchestown Festival, Henry De Bromhead’s charge has made a decent start to his life over hurdles and after a couple of near misses in useful maidens, he finally got off the mark over today’s C&D back at the Christmas meeting. Indeed, the time figure he posted and the way he stayed on that day suggested he could easily make the grade at a higher level and this big, imposing sort looks seriously underestimated given his raw talent and potential. At 33-1, a small each-way interest is also advised just in case the wheels come off the jolly.
15.25 Taunton
As it turned out, the extremely aggressive ride PRIVATE MALONE (NAP) (best price 9-2) received at Newbury last time eventually took its toll in the latter stages, but the way he went through that decent novices’ contest at the Berkshire track certainly suggested he has enough raw quality to figure in this slightly less taxing event if he can be ridden with a little more efficiency. Up with the speed from the start, Emma Lavelle’s inmate carted his way to the front going away from the stands and jumping and travelling all the way down the back, things appeared to going swimmingly. Unfortunately, the son of Darsi ran out of petrol after jumping the second last and even though he kept on valiantly to finish a creditable fourth, he had nothing left to offer the first three home who were ridden more patiently off the speed. Whether the visor on for the first-time turns out to be a wise move given his exuberance last time out remains to be seen, but either way, on pure talent alone, he easily has enough quality to score off a mark of 123 (won off higher over hurdles) around a track which should suit better than last time.
16.10 Leopardstown
Easily the best handicap of its kind run either side of the Irish Sea so far this season and Hell’s Kitchen will be a popular choice having clocked a big speed figure when dismantling a quality field – including subsequent winner Mister Whitaker – at Kempton last time out. The probably Harry Fry’s charge may face today is serious competitive for the lead and with the likes of Kylecrue, De Benno, Magic Of Light and more importantly, main market rival, Vieux Morvan in the line-up, he won’t have the luxury of bossing this race like he did at the Surrey venue 40 days ago. The best strategy, therefore, is to perhaps look towards those that like to sit off what should turn out to be a hot pace and one that fits nicely into that category is COEUR JOYEUX (best price 25-1). Called several rude names in the past for often flattering to deceive, Philip Dempsey’s inmate seems to have really turned the corner mentally in recent times under his new tutorship and he latest effort when a game winner of a competitive and strongly-run affair at Punchestown advertised his current new-founded state of mind. Usually a strong traveller, the seven-year-old should creep into the race nicely before being delivered late and having run well on both his starts at the Dublin track, odds of 22-1 should not be sniffed at.
