Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
SONIC BOOM
Kemboy to cause shock waves in today’s showpiece
KEMBOY might have the edge over Monalee and Presenting Percy in a fascinating renewal of the listed Boomerang.ie Chase in Thurles.
Willie Mullins has won this race four times in the last five years. But today’s contest looks the strongest Boomerang we’ve seen as three Grade 1 winners do battle. And, although he failed to win last season, I expect Kemboy to come out on top.
In the 2018–19 season, the selection slammed Monalee in the Grade 1 Savills at Leopardstown and, having unseated his rider at the first in the Gold Cup at Cheltenham, produced a spectacular display to land Aintree’s Betway Bowl before lowering the colours of Gold Cup victor and stablec-ompanion Al Boum Photo in the Punchestown Gold Cup.
Last season, he failed to hit the target, finishing fourth to Delta Work in the Savills and second to the same horse in the Irish Gold Cup before failing to fire in the Gold Cup, where he finished 12 lengths seventh behind Al Boum Photo.
On that occasion, Monalee, a close fourth, finished more than 10 lengths in front of Kemboy and, on that basis as well as ratings, sets the standard in today’s race.
Henry de Bromhead’s charge, conqueror of Al Boum Photo in the Flogas as a novice, also holds Kemboy on last season’s Savills form – when Monalee failed by just a head to Delta Work.
But, as Monalee is being prepared for a tilt at the King George over Christmas, I believe Kemboy might be better-suited by two miles and six furlongs around Thurles – as both horses make their seasonal debuts.
Presenting Percy has a potential fitness edge – having made his return to action on his first start for Gordon Elliott – when fourth to stable-companion The Storyteller.
Winner of the 2018 RSA at Cheltenham, he has proven a bit of an enigma since, but wasn’t far behind Kemboy when fourth in the Savills last Christmas and was on the heels of the leaders when crashing two out in the Gold Cup.
Having used Denis O’regan on Percy at Down Royal, Jack Kennedy is a surprise booking today. But the Cullentra contender might struggle against Kemboy and Monalee in an intriguing five-runner affair.
Mullins might also land the opening beginners chase with Lord Royal, runaway winner of a Clonmel maiden hurdle before being turned over in a Grade 3 at Punchestown.
And the champion trainer will saddle fascinating £280,000 purchase El Barra for the bumper, th e si x-year -ol d making his racecourse debut.