Putting your money where your Mouth
Is
LOSSIEMOUTH should confirm her position as the season’s leading four-year-old hurdler by landing the Grade 1 Donohue Marquees Spring Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown today.
The grey filly, winner of her only start in France, has impressed in both starts since joining Willie Mullins and, already a short-priced favourite for the Triumph at Cheltenham, should retain her unbeaten record here.
The selection turned over stable-companion and favourite Zarak The Brave in a Grade 3 at Fairyhouse on her Irish debut and followed-up with an impressive victory over another
Closutton inmate Gala
Marceau in a Grade 2 over this course and distance at Christmas.
Rated 140, Lossiemouth won with plenty in hand on both occasions, should confirm form with Gala Marceau and is a confident choice to boost her Triumph prospects.
Willie Mullins will saddle five of the eight runners in the Arkle, all of them exciting novice prospects. And I’ll side with Paul Townend’s (inset) mount
Appreciate It (right), who boasts an unbeaten record at Leopardstown (four from four) – two bumpers and two hurdles.
A three-time Grade 1 winner over hurdles, including the
Ballymore at Cheltenham, but seen only once last season, the nine-year-old has done nothing wrong in two starts over fences, making all to record widemargin wins, at long odds-on, at both Punchestown and Naas.
Potentially even better with a lead, Appreciate It is preferred to stable-companions El Fabiolo and Dysart Diamond and Joseph O’brien’s Banbridge – not seen since finishing third in the Drinmore at Fairyhouse and suited by today’s better ground.
2.55 Sandown; 3.40 Leopardstown.