Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
OBEAUX IN TUNE Bobbyjo success would be music to Elliott’s ears
IN the absence of Gold Cup favourite Presenting Percy, Alpha Des Obeaux looks the horse to beat in today’s Grade 3 Betvictor Bobbyjo Chase in Fairyhouse.
With Percy heading straight to Cheltenham – without a run over fences since last year – the Bobbyjo has lost a lot of its potential interest.
But it gives Alpha Des Obeaux, in his sixth run since being transferred from Mouse Morris to Gordon Elliott, with a good opportunity to register his fifth win over the bigger obstacles.
Alpha has triumphed at
Grade 2 level over both hurdles and fences – his chase win coming in the 2017
Clonmel Oil Chase – and also boasts solid Grade 1 hurdle form up to three miles.
He hasn’t won over fences beyond two miles and six furlongs.
But he has produced some of his best efforts in top three-mile handicap chases, including when trying to give Total recall 16lb in the Munster National last season and, most recently, when collared on the run-in by Gold Cup contender Invitation Only in the Thyestes at Gowran Park, when he finished 11 lengths clear of the third.
Helped by first-time blinkers last time, when ridden by a 7lb claimer, the nine-year-old recorded his most recent win in a listed event at Thurles in November, having chased home subsequent Grade 1 winner and another Gold Cup hope Kemboy in the Clonmel Oil.
Fit and, on Gowran evidence, in tip-top shape, Alpha Des Obeaux – highest-rated of the seven runners – sets the standard and gets the vote.
Willie Mullins, who has won six of the last eight renewals of the race, relies on last year’s National Hunt Chase winner Rathvinden (inset) – off the track since finishing fourth to The Storyteller in a memorable Grade 1 novice at the Punchestown Festival – and Pleasant Company, narrowly beaten by Tiger Roll in the Grand National in Aintree but below par this season.
Also to be considered is Jessica Harrington’s in-form mare Magic Of Light, busy in England in recent weeks and receiving a hefty 12lb from Alpha, and the selection’s veteran stable-companion Outlander.
On what should prove another good day at one of his local tracks for Elliott, the well-regarded, once-raced Fury Road is napped to bounce back from his slightly disappointing debut fifth to Exit Poll at Leopardstown.
Successful over course and distance on his Irish debut, Athorizo has clear claims in the Grade 3 Winning Fair Juvenile Hurdle. And 128-rated Dakota Moirette has been found a very good opportunity in the beginners chase.