Mask ready to face Naas challenge
WINNER MACHINE
TAKING on a Willie Mullins hotpot is usually a recipe for getting egg on your face.
In the wake of winning all eight Grade 1 races at last weekend’s Dublin Racing Festival, perhaps even more so.
But it was not all plain sailing at Leopardstown for stable jockey Paul Townend (right) who picked the ‘wrong’ one in four of those eight races.
Townend’s mount in the Listed Opera Hat Mares’ Chase (3.40) at Naas, Allegorie De Vassy, is hugely talented but she’s quirky too and has been a beaten shortpriced favourite in three of her last five races. I’m never afraid to take her on.
Mullins could still win this with his second string Instit, but I favour MASKADA, a mare whose jumping is more reliable than wayward if big-engined rival Riviere D’etel.
Henry de Bromhead’s Cheltenham Festival winner comes good in the second half of the season and her rallying third behind El Fabiolo pointed to an imminent win.
The mighty Shishkin was once thought of as a 2m specialist. He stays 3m on good ground but he’s by no means sure to run up to his best at the trip on the attritional going at Newbury for the Game Spirit Chase (2.05).
SAM BROWN, who lost two years to injury early in his career, loves those conditions, and he has good placed form with Gold Cup horses like Royale Pagaille and Bravemansgame. In a first-time visor, we saw the old Sam Brown winning last time.
MAKING HEADWAY
has looked to be crying out for 2m4f in his two latest defeats over the minimum trip.
He remains at 2m for the Betfair Podcasts Novices’ Hurdle (12.55), though it will certainly be a stamina-sapping test.
TODAY’S SELECTIONS
Making Headway 12.55 Newbury Sam Brown
2.05 Newbury Maskada
3.40 Naas