FIGHTER JET
Jessica’s charge ready to battle back
JETZ is expected to bounce back from a first fence blip at Naas last time to land the listed Pierce Molony Memorial Novice Chase in Thurles today, the County Tipperary’s track’s final meeting of the season. Trained by Jessica Harrington, Jetz dived at the first fence, blundered badly and unseated Robbie Power when contesting the recent, Grade 3 Naas Directors Plate Novice Chase.
But the seven-year-old’s overall form makes him the horse to beat although, on ratings, he has a bit to find with Gordon Elliott’s DUCA DE THAIX.
The pair met at Navan in November, when Jetz prevailed by a half-length, but is 7lb worse off today.
But the key to this race is the Grade 3 Flyingbolt Novice Chase at Navan last month, in which Jetz, ridden for the first time by today’s partner Paul Townend, made all to beat today’s rival BENRUBEN (earlier beaten by subsequent handicap winner Ex Patriot on this track) by eight and a half lengths, with a lacklustre Duca De Thaix, the 9/10 favourite, a further 26 lengths back in a very disappointing third.
The selection, which competed at Grade 1 level during the winter, must shoulder a 7lb penalty today, which will make life more difficult. But he should confirm that Navan form with his rivals, although a much better run is expected from Duca De Thaix.
Completing the line-up is Duca De Thaix’s stable-companion CUBOMANIA, pulled up in the Close Brothers at Cheltenham last week.
Although probably a little quirky, with a tendency to jump left, but wearing cheekpieces for the first time, Jetz looks another likely winner for champion-jockey elect and century-seeking Townend, who also has obvious prospects on SCARPETA in the White Gypsy Finns Borrisoeligh Hurdle.
Trained by Willie Mullins, Scarpeta must concede weight to his eight rivals, including PEREGRINE RUN, better known as a chaser and returning after a winter break.
A convincing winner at Clonmel on his seasonal debut, Scarpeta then filled third spot behind stable-companion Bachasson at Punchestown and, last time, finished 14th behind William Henry in the Coral Cup at Cheltenham last week.
Conceding 10lb to Peregrine Run and PRINCE OF SCARS won’t be easy. But Scarpeta gets the vote.