HE SHAN GRAB A FENCING WIN
It should be third time lucky for Blackmore’s mount in Wilkinson Beginners
PETER O’HEHIR
SHANTREUSSE might make it third-time-lucky over fences for Henry de Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore in today’s Wilkinstown Beginners Chase in Navan.
The six-year-old Shantou gelding, a Clonmel bumper winner for Sam Curling, was successful twice over hurdleswhen registering a wide-margin maiden win at Cork last January before outstaying his rivals in the Grade 3 Surehaul Mercedes Benz Novice Hurdle at Clonmel in February.
That victory earned him a tilt at the Albert Bartlett in Cheltenham where he raced prominently until coming down the hill and faded to finish a well-beaten 10th behind The Nice Guy.
But Shantreusse has always looked a staying chaser in the making. And he made his eagerly-awaited fencing bow at Fairyhouse in mid-november when, easy to back, he was outpaced at a crucial stage before plugging on to finish fourth behind the classy, subsequent Grade 1 winner
Gerri Colombe.
He started a slight odds-on favourite, stepping-up in trip, last time at Punchestown but, having been close to the pace throughout failed by a length and a half to cope with Must Be Obeyed (franked the form by scoring again at Fairyhouse last week).
Shantreusse had two of today’s rivals behind on that occasion, with Mahler Mission just a head away in third after missing the last, and Aione in fifth.
This more demanding track should play to the strengths of Shantreusse. And he gets the vote to open his chasing account.
Today’s feature is the Grade B Navan Handicap Hurdle, in which Sean Doyle’s Lucky Max has excellent prospects as he bids to follow-up his smooth success in Cork two weeks ago, when readily outpointing Takarengo by six lengths.
The seven-year-old, who had run creditably earlier in competitive events at Naas and Fairyhouse, is up 8lb for his most recent win, but might be capable of defying the handicapper.