HANDY ANDY
Elliott finds Dufresne the perfect race to repair his reputation after shock defeat in Navan novice hurdle
ANDY DUFRESNE should redeem his tall reputation in the Grade 2 Sky Bet Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle at Punchestown.
This event has been won by such Grade 1 performers as Min, Vautour and Douvan in recent years.
And, although beaten in a Grade 2 at Navan last time, which ended his unbeaten record, Andy Dufresne should be capable of bouncing back this afternoon and re-establishing himself as a potential star.
Trained for JP Mcmanus by Gordon Elliott, Andy Dufresne won his point-to-point, a Down Royal bumper and a maiden hurdle in Navan – slamming subsequent winner Cobbler’s Way – before being sent off at 1/3 for the Grade Navan Novice Hurdle last month.
Mark Walsh made the running in the Doyen gelding but, in the closing stages, he failed to keep Paul Nolan’s Latest Exhibition at bay, going down by two and a quarter lengths. The winner is rated 145 and had earlier bumped into subsequent Grade 1 winner Abacadabras (currently rated 148) in a two-mile novice at Navan.
Having raced over two and a half miles on both hurdle starts, Andy Dufresne should cope readily with this drop-back to two miles and return to winning ways.
Chief threat to Mark Walsh’s mount should be the Joseph O’brien-trained course and distance winner Anything Will Do, bidding for a four-timer today, with a rating of 136 which should, at least, make him competitive.
In treble form at Thurles on Thursday, Gordon Elliott, trainer of Andy Dufresne, might also strike with French import Cheb De Kerviniou in the amateur riders handicap chase.
This fellow got within a half-length of front-running Biddy The Boss on his recent Irish debut at Fairyhouse and, on 5lb better terms and with Patrick Mullins no board, should turn the tables on Gavin Cromwell’s charge. Willie Mullins and Paul Townend also have double prospects, with Carefully Selected, in the Grade 3 Killiney Novice Chase, and Blackbow in the finale.
A lightly-raced eight-year-old, third to Minella Indo in a Grade 1 novice hurdle at the Festival on this track in April, Carefully Selected warmed to his task on his fencing debut at Fairyhouse before blundering at the second last and recovering to beat Lord Schnitzel.
With improvement expected, he might get the better of City Island, winner of the Ballymore at Cheltenham for Martin Brassil before finishing unplaced behind Reserve Tank at the Festival here.
He jumped sloppily on his chasing bow at Leopardstown, ultimately being pulled up after a bad blunder two from home.
Clearly better than that, City Island is a classy performer and rates a big threat.