Beach ready to lap it up
MALA BEACH can put one bad run behind him and take the Bobbyjo Chase (3.30) at Fairyhouse today.
The Gordon Elliott-trained gelding was an impressive winner of the Troytown at Navan in November but was pulled up with something looking amiss in the Irish Gold Cup earlier this month.
He is a horse who has struggled with injuries over his career but his quick return to the track suggests you can draw a line through that poor Leopardstown showing. The ground at Fairyhouse should suit him and the track and trip will be right up his street. Willie Mullins will run his biggest danger BELLSHILL, a classy former Grade One winner, who was last seen finishing a distant third to Might Bite in the RSA at last year’s Cheltenham Festival. However, with race fitness on Mala Beach’s side, the 10-year-old is fancied to get the upper hand.
Elsewhere in the Paddy Rewards Chase (3.45) at Naas on Sunday, sometimes you just have to go with the tried and tested and opt for the safe hooves of BALL D’ARC.
Elliott is a master at lapping up Grade 2 and Grade 3 prize money with horses like Ball D’arc – the James Milner of jumps racing – short of top class but you can’t argue with his bank balance. Our fancy has pocketed just shy of €200,000 for the coffers of Gigginstown and this looks another ideal opportunity.
The seven-year-old was no match for Min last time out at Leopardstown but prior to that gave Ordinary World a good beating at Sunday’s track. That form looks good enough to see off the likes of the talented but fragile AMERICAN TOM, mud-lover Alisier D’irlande and improving stable-mate DOCTOR PHOENIX.
At Newcastle on Saturday it is going to take a tough sort to triumph in the Eider Chase run over an extended 4 miles.
In an open race, BAYWING could be just the kind to take this with connections swerving a shot at Cheltenham for glory on Tyneside.
The son of Winged Love is untried over this marathon trip but has given indications he could relish it and has already shown a fondness for the track.