Langtry to take on role as the 1st Lady
ONCE-RACED Lantry Lady might upstage top-weight What’s Up Darling in today’s Grade 3 Red Mills Trial Hurdle in Gowran Park.
Trained by Henry de Bromhead, the six-year-old Saint Des Saints mare created a very favourable impression when bolting-up on her debut in a maiden hurdle in Limerick 11 months ago.
She triumphed by 14 lengths that day, beating Silent Approach who has progressed to win twice over fences (including a Grade 2) and another subsequent winner Something Abouther.
It’s a concern we haven’t seen Lantry Lady since last March and she’ll sport a first-time tongue-tie as she steps into graded company for the first time.
But race conditions mean she’s receiving 14lb from obvious rival What’s Up Darling, trained by Gordon Elliott and returning from a shorter break, the Navan maiden winner having been off the track since finishing fifth (beaten less than seven lengths) behind stablecompanion Farren Glory in the Grade 1 Royal Bond at Fairyhouse in December.
Lantry Lady is difficult to assess but a mare whose dam is a half-sister to Annie Power, she has lots of potential and makes plenty of appeal here.
The featured, Grade 2 Red Mills Chase might develop into a head-to-head between 159-rated Saint Sam, representing Willie Mullins and having his first run since falling at the last in his bid for a four-timer at Listowel in September, and the Elliott-trained Riviere D’etel, making a quick reappearance after a creditable second to Allegorie De Vassy in the Opera Hat in Naas last Sunday.
Saint Sam triumphed at Tramore, Killarney (a Grade 3) and Galway last summer before crashing in Listowel, when trying to hold off Visionarian, and, although heavy ground is not ideal for him, Paul Townend’s mount sets a decent standard.
But marginal preference is for Riviere D’etel, like Saint Sam a four-time winner over fences, and boasting a 33 lengths defeat of Allegorie De Vassy at Fairyhouse on her penultimate start before failing to cope with that rival over two miles in Naas.