Byrnes can get you Off to a flier
THE rapidly improving Off You Go can take the step up to graded company in his stride in the Ladbrokes Ireland Boyne Hurdle (2.20) at Navan tomorrow.
Four runs into a winless career and you couldn’t imagine Charles Byrnes horse would be one of the leading contenders for a Grade 2.
The son of Presenting got an official rating of 107 after three average runs in maiden hurdles which was followed by a third in an ordinary handicap at Thurles.
There was a suspicion he was given a soft time of it on that occasion and seemed the case when he bolted up at Limerick next time out when heavily gambled on.
The secret was out and it was followed up with two more wins in competitive handicaps before his escalating mark seemed to catch up with him as he finished eighth at Fairyhouse in December.
But he got the better of the handicapper again when flying home to win cosily at Leopardstown earlier this month, beating Jezki by a length.
That looked a fine performance and he is now rated 151, leaving his trainer with little choice but step up to graded company. The main opposition in the two mile five furlong contest looks to be BACHASSON who returned to good effect at Punchestown on New Year’s Eve.
Gordon Elliott’s CRACKING SMART is also a classy sort but would prefer more cut in the ground. So, Off You Go is a confident selection to do the business.
Turning to today’s action and Elliott’s smart juvenile hurdler COEUR SUBLIME is the fancy in the Red Mills Trial Hurdle (1.50) at Gowran Park.
The four-year-old had one run on the flat and took the significant scalp of Aidan O’brien’s Southern France before attention was switched to hurdles.
He looked set to win well in a Grade 2 at Leopardstown over Christmas only to fall at the last and it may be significant that Elliott has skipped a number of engagements for this race. The juvenile gets weight from all his rivals and can get the better of DAROSSO and stablemate FARCLAS. On the same card, Noel Meade’s FUTURE PROOF has ran into some smart types and can get a deserved victory against lesser opposition in the opening maiden hurdle (1.20).