JIMMY FLIGHT
French import can snooker rivals
THE Willie Mullins-trained Jimmy Du Seuil looks the short-priced banker on today’s seven-race card in Clonmel.
A French import, the five-year-old was turned over by a stable-companion Asian Master when favourite for his Irish debut at Thurles a week before Christmas but did little wrong and has been found a good opportunity to get off the mark in the Monroe Maiden Hurdle.
Jimmy Du Seuil finished second and fifth in his bumper outings in France before being acquired by the Closutton team for €200,000 in October of 2022.
He was sent off even-money favourite for his Irish debut and, a little keen, did very little wrong although, ultimately, failed by three-quarters of a length to cope with lesser-fancied stable-companion Asian Master, also making his debut for Mullins.
On that occasion, the leading pair stretched 11 lengths clear of thirdplaced Dollar Nolimit, who has finished fourth, off 112, on his handicap debut.
Jimmy Du Seuil is unlikely to develop into a stable star for Mullins and owner Edward Ware.
But he should be capable of recouping Thurles losses and getting off the mark.
In addition to Jimmy Du Seuil, Champion-jockey Paul Townend, currently 20 behind Jack Kennedy (6888) in his bid for a seventh Jockeys Championship, has obvious chances on Enola, in the Kilsheelan Mares Maiden Hurdle, and Quai De Bourbon in the featured Munster Hurdle.
Successful three times on the flat in France (including a listed event), Enola was an uneasy 7/4 favourite for her Irish debut in Cork in late November and ran as if she’d improve from the outing when filling fourth spot, beaten less than six lengths), behind Tactical Affair.
Plenty of improvement is expected and, one of just two penalised runners in the field, should deliver.
Quai De Bourbon, another Mullinstrained French import, justified favouritism on his Irish debut in Naas and might prove too strong for Gordon Elliott’s Cork winner Tactical Affair, third to Elixir D’aianay at Punchestown last time, in the Munster Hurdle.