SUTS YOU SIR
Stayers Hurdle looks tailor-made for an upset
The Gordon Elliott, inset, trained six-year-old is unexposed but unbeaten over hurdles and, while he lacks the Grade 1 form of his chief rivals, he has always been held in high regard by his trainer. If he copes with today’s drying ground and three-mile trip, he might be capable of causing a bit of an upset. Winner of a Grade 2 novice at Fairyhouse more than a year ago, Sutton Place has raced only twice this season, he beat subsequent Coral Cup winner and Aintree Grade 1 runner-up Supasundae in the Grade 3 Limestone Lad Hurdle at Naas in January. And, in his only subsequent starts, he out classed De Plotting Shed and subsequent Fairyhouse winner Renetti in the Boyne Hurdle (Grade 2) in Navan. Sutton Place was due to contest a Grade 2 at Fairyhouse last week, but was a late defection due to the unsuitably dry ground, a slight concern today. But the watered Punchestown turf should be fine for the J P Mcmanus-owned son of Mahler. It’s probably a bit of a leap of faith choosing Sutton Place over the like of nine-time Grade 1 winner Nichols Canyon. But he’s a fresh horse. And I believe we haven’t seen the best of him yet. A prolific winner in Grade 1 company, including five novice successes and a defeat of Faugheen in the Morgiana on this track, Nichols Canyon failed to cope with Petit Mouchoir in the Ryanair Hurdle at Leopardstown at Christmas and was held by that rival when falling at the final flight in the Irish Champion Hurdle. But he bounced back to his best, when tackling a proper test of stamina for the first time, in the Sun Bets Stayers Hurdle in Cheltenham and, under an inspired ride by Ruby Walsh, he landed the spoils at the expense of Lil Rockerfeller and Unowhatimeanharry. With his excellent track record, he sets a decent standard today, although there will probably be little between the trio again – Unowhatimeanharry, was unbeaten this season including a defeat of ‘Lil’ at Ascot, until Cheltenham and is sure to run his race again. In addition to Nichols Canyon, Willie Mullins runs Footpad, runner-up to Petit Mouchoir in the Irish Champion Hurdle and beaten ten and a half lengths when fourth to Buveur D’air in the Stan James Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham last time. He’s tackling a new trip today, but cannot be discounted with Daryl Jacob in the saddle. Also representing the champion trainer is the versatile Clondaw Warrior, which has solid claims on his best form, including the defeat of Snow Falcon and Clondaw Warrior in the Galmoy at Gowran Park. Last year’s winner One Track Mind, off the track since December, represents Warren Greatrex but is difficult to fancy. But Noel Meade’s Snow Falcon, a creditable third behind Yanworth and Supasundae in Aintree, might have each-way prospects at a tasty price. Elliott-trained De Plotting Shed looks held on overall form, while the progressive Jury Duty tries his luck in a Grade 1 for the first time.