GREAT ESCAPE
Howard’s charge can evade capture in Gold Cup
WINTER ESCAPE should deliver a first Grade 1 success for trainer Aidan Howard in the Grade 1 Ryanair Gold Cup Novice Chase at Fairyhouse tomorrow.
Only five runners have turned out for this prize and the top four are very closely matched on ratings. MENGLI KHAN is sure to be popular having reached the frame in Grade 1 company at both Cheltenham and Aintree. However, he had a tough enough race in Liverpool and he might just prefer more of an ease in the ground.
Winter Escape wouldn’t want the ground to dry out too much but if connections are happy to let him take his chance he is not one to oppose. He did disappoint at the Dublin Racing Festival when he was last seen in action but he had a valid excuse that day as he burst a blood vessel.
It should be remembered he produced one of the novice chase performances of the season at Punchestown on his previous start.
On that occasion, the eight-year-old gave a stone and a beating to the subsequent
Cheltenham winner A Plus
Tard.
If Winter Escape turns up in that form he should have the measure of Mengli Khan and VOIX DU REVE whose jumping has been an issue lately.
Earlier Willie Mullins, inset, fields seven of the 17 runners in the Grade 1 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Novice Hurdle. The champion trainer’s team includes last month’s shock Cheltenham winner EGLANTINE DU SEUIL and she must have a great chance.
Her run at Cheltenham was her first since September so she can improve from that and this longer trip will also suit her well.
This time slight preference is for another Mullinstrained runner in SALSARETTA who could manage only fifth in this race 12 months ago. Salsaretta is now a better mare and she comes here off a good run in Cheltenham when she finished seventh in the Albert Bartlett. She possibly didn’t quite get home over three miles that day but she still ran a fine against some quality geldings.