Impaire Et Passe looking to extend his winning run
THE unbeaten Impaire Et Passe will bid to showcase his Champion Hurdle credentials in the Bar One Racing Hatton’s Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse this afternoon.
Arguably the star of Willie Mullins’ band of novices over hurdles last term, the exciting five-year-old confirmed the promise of his smooth Moscow Flyer success when striking with authority at both the Cheltenham and Punchestown Festivals in the spring.
He is now a warm order to make a smooth transition to open company and provide his trainer with another contender to take on Constitution Hill back at Prestbury Park in March.
However, there may be a few nerves at Closutton ahead of their hot hurdling prospect’s reappearance, having seen Gold Cup hero Galopin Des Champs beaten on his return last weekend.
‘Impaire Et Passe obviously won over two and a half in Cheltenham and the Hatton’s Grace was the obvious starting point,’ said Patrick Mullins, assistant to his father.
‘Stepping out of novice company is always difficult, but what he did to Gaelic Warrior and Champ Kiely in Cheltenham was a huge performance.
‘We’ll be disappointed if he got beaten, but Galopin Des Champs got beaten last weekend.’
Impaire Et Passe is joined in the line-up by stablemate Ashroe Diamond, who has won her last two, both here at Fairyhouse, and secured Grade One honours over track and trip in her final outing of last term.
‘Ashroe Diamond will run very well, with a view to going for the Mares’ Hurdle later in the year,’ continued Mullins, who will enjoy steering duties aboard the likeable six-year-old.
‘My mother bred her, she’s won in Aintree for the owners and won a Grade One in Fairyhouse.
‘I thought her two runs behind Facile Vega and Marine Nationale last year were the two best runs by a mare last year. She’s a long way out on ratings (on Sunday), but I think when she drops back to mares only company, she’ll be giving everything plenty to think about.’
Teahupoo lowered the colours of Honeysuckle when staying on strongly to edge out Klassical Dream and Henry de Bromhead’s champion mare 12 months ago and Gordon Elliott’s Stayers’ Hurdle third will be attempting to repeat the dose in the hands of Jack Kennedy.
Last year’s victory was the fourth time Elliott has triumphed in the Grade One after Apple’s Jade dominated the contest between 2016 and 2018 and the Cullentra House team are also represented by the consistent Zanahiyr.
‘I’ve got Teahupoo and Zanahiyr in the Hatton’s Grace and both horses have got good chances,’ Elliott told Racing TV.
‘Teahupoo on his form last year would probably be the pick of them, but whereas Zanahiyr wouldn’t mind a bit of better ground, Teahupoo would want as much rain as he can get.’
The field of five is completed by Paul Gilligan’s Buddy One, who steps out of handicap company in search of a hat-trick, having impressed at Cheltenham during the November meeting.
‘Isn’t it great to have a horse to take on the big boys? That’s what we all want, one of these horses, and we have one now and it’s great,’ said Gilligan.
‘He’s won at Fairyhouse. We won’t get carried away, as we know exactly what’s facing us if he steps up to take on these guys. Impaire Et Passe is going to be hard to beat, Teahupoo is going to be hard to beat, but he could beat them. Who’s to say he won’t?’
The first Grade One of the day on a top-class card is the Royal Bond Novice Hurdle, and Michael O’Sullivan will have a great chance of back-to-back victories when he partners Fascile Mode for Tom Mullins.
The young starlet of the weighing room picked up his first Grade One when coolly steering Marine Nationale to win this event 12 months ago, before establishing himself as a leading rider when following up on Barry Connell’s stable star at the Cheltenham Festival.
O’Sullivan successfully linked up with Fascile Mode on the five-yearold’s hurdling bow at Punchestown and the exciting prospect’s experienced handler is delighted to have retained his services as he now steps up in grade.
‘All the big yards have their big jockeys and one thing and another, but Michael is a very talented man and a talented jockey,’ said Mullins.
‘When he has the horse, he will win with it. He was very good on Marine Nationale last year and he’s a really good jockey – we’re very happy to have him.’
Likely favourite is Henry de Bromhead’s An Tobar, who was a course-and-distance scorer on debut.
The day’s other feature is the Drinmore Novice Chase, in which exciting prospect Letsbeclearaboutit could hand Gavin Cromwell a first Grade One win over fences.
The County Meath handler has Champion Hurdle and Stayers’ Hurdle triumphs on his ever-growing CV, but a top-level victory over the larger obstacles has eluded him so far.
However, he may have found the ideal candidate to land a telling chasing blow in the form of his ‘scopey’ eight-year-old, who is unbeaten in two starts at the beginning of his fledgling career over the bigger obstacles, barely putting a foot wrong so far.
Taking his fencing bow at Gowran was followed up by a facile 10length
Isn’t it great to have a horse to take on the big boys? It’s what we all want
Since he’s gone chasing, he’s taken his form to a whole new level
victory in a Cork Grade Three and the handler holds the gelding in the highest regard, having always operated at a demanding level.
‘He was a good bumper horse and a good hurdler and since he’s gone chasing, he’s taken his form to a new level, so hopefully we can maintain the upwards curve,’ said Cromwell.
‘He looks like a chaser and he’s scopey and he enjoys jumping fences. When they enjoy it, that can bring about some huge improvement.
‘He’s right up there (with the best) and we will know more on Sunday, but he’s clearly been a good horse since the get-go and hopefully will run a big race.’