TODAY’S RUNNERS AND FRIDAY’S GOLD CUP CARD INSIDE:
JESSICA Harrington and Robbie Power combined to take the Gold Cup with Sizing John 12 months ago and today the pair bid to complete the missing piece of a Festival jigsaw for the 71-yearold trainer with Supasundae in the Stayers’ Hurdle.
The Moone handler added the blue riband to her Champion Chase (Moscow Flyer in 2003 and ‘05) and Champion Hurdle (Jezki in 2014) wins but she now bids to go one better by taking the three-mile hurdle crown to become the first Irish trainer to win the ‘Big Four’ Championship races.
It would be an astonishing feat but last year’s Coral Cup winner is a leading player having taken the Irish Champion Hurdle when “sharpening up” for this test over a shorter trip.
Despite Supasundae’s leading claims, history will not be easily made in one of the most competitive races.
That is in stark contrast to two of my bankers of the Festival with Willie Mullins’ Laurina looking like a good thing in an average Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle while stablemate Un De Sceaux looks a cut above the rest in the Ryanair Chase.
1.30 Grade One JLT Novices’ Chase 2m 3f 198yds
THIS is an open betting heat headed by Mullins’ Invitation Only with the Closutton maestro bidding for his fifth victory in the race and his fourth in succession.
His close third to Monalee at the Dublin Racing Festival makes him a key player but this is a competitive opener with the English well represented by Finian’s Oscar.
His jumping is sketchy but conditions will suit Colin Tizzard’s charge — with Robbie Power aboard — so he is respected, while Nicky Henderson’s Terrefort, in the same colours as Arkle winner Footpad, is another exciting novice.
Kemboy is the value choice at big odds with Mullins’ second string as strong as his first.
VERDICT: Kemboy (e/w) can spring a surprise at a big price. 2.10 Grade Three Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle 2m 7f 213yds
JP McManus has a habit of winners in competitive handicaps and the Limerick owner saddles one sixth of the 24 runners, including market leader Glenloe for Gordon Elliott.
There has been just one winning favourite in the last 10 runnings, however, so Barry Geraghty’s mount has it all to prove.
Another McManus runner is the Eddie Harty-trained Sort It Out, which ran a cracker in his only other Festival appearance when second in the County Hurdle three years ago.
It must be remembered, however, that before the wins of Presenting Percy and Mall Dini, the visiting team had an appalling record in this race, so the English representatives are respected.
The best of them may be Louis’ Vac Pouch with British champion jockey Richard Johnson aboard, who can score for trainer Philip Hobbs.
VERDICT: Louis’ Vac Pouch can score for Johnson and Hobbs. 2.50 Grade One Ryanair Chase 2m 4f 166yds
SHOULD Cue Card roll back the years and take the Ryanair Chase for the second time it would bring the house down but as a 12-year-old, the 2013 winner faces a stiff task.
Last year’s victor Un De Sceaux has looked better than ever. With his growing years, Mullins’ (right) 10-year-old has given punters fewer heart-stopping moments having learned to settle better in his races and rein in the exuberance which saw him hit the deck twice in