CASTLE LOOKS IMPREGNABLE
JP MCMANUS has bolstered his team significantly having bought a trio of recent winners, most notably, exciting Joseph O’brien-trained
Fakir D’oudairies.
Impressive winner of a Grade 2 event at Cheltenham last time, Fakir D’oudairies is second favourite, behind stable-companion Sir Erec, for Cheltenham’s JCB triumph Hurdle.
But, now set to don the Mcmanus silks, it is conceivable the four-year-old could be re-routed to the Supreme Novices at the
Festival.
Konitho, trained by Joseph for his sister, Sarah, to land his maiden hurdle in impressive style at Naas recently, has also been purchased by Mcmanus and is likely to return to Naas for the EMS Copiers Rated 4-Y-0 Novice Hurdle on Saturday. The third purchase by the Mcmanus team is Blue Sari, runaway winner of a four-year-old bumper at Gowran Park on Thyestes day for Willie Mullins and, like Fakir D’oudairies, bought from ML Bloodstock. FRESH from his Grade 1 double with Sir Erec and Le Richebourg last weekend, trainer Joseph O’brien and owner JP Mcmanus should be on the mark with topweight Castle Oliver in the Holycross Maiden Hurdle in Thurles today.
Third to Commander Of Fleet in a Punchestown maiden hurdle on his racecourse debut, this grey overcame traffic problems to land his bumper, when a well-backed 5/2 shot, at Fairyhouse on New Year’s Day, getting up late under Derek O’connor to foil Chef Afef narrowly.
The Stowaway gelding is almost certainly a good bit better than that bare form and might concede weight to his 15 rivals, with 118-rated Spyglass Hill and Trappist Monk, third to Sinoria at Down Royal, among the dangers.
O’brien and Derek O’connor might also land the bumper with Sempo, denied a clear run at a crucial stage before staying on to finish a close third behind Exit Poll at Leopardstown.
Earlier, Arvico Bleu, whose form includes a second to subsequent dual Grade 1 winner Le Richebourg in Listowel and a couple of solid, recent runs in handicap company, might land the Templemore Beginners Chase for Henry de Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore.
Arvico Bleu is owned by Gigginstown House Stud whose Final List, trained by Gordon Elliott, might be capable of conceding weight to his rivals in the thurles.ie Maiden Hurdle on the back of a hurdle debut second to Valdieu at Naas.
He is preferred to the Willie Mullins-trained Great White Shark, which made a costly blunder on her hurdle debut in Fairyhouse (finished sixth to Kingston Girl) and 116-rated Polished Steel. WILLIE MULLINS confirmed yesterday that Un De Sceaux, seen only once this season, when beaten by Altior in the
Tingle Creek at Sandown in December, will not travel for the Game Spirit at Newbury on Saturday and added: “There isn’t a plan for him yet.”