Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
NO MATCH FOR CRO Elliott’s charge to see off Faugh
ON a day when our novice chasers take centre stage at both Limerick and Leopardstown, Samcro is preferred to Faugheen in the Grade 1 Matchbook Betting Exchange Novice Chase at the southern venue.
Jumping will be key in the Limerick feature as Samcro attempts to bounce back from his Drinmore hiccup while Faugheen’s supporters will try to erase memories of the eighth fence blunder which came close to scuppering his belated fencing debut at Punchestown.
Samcro jumped soundly, when doing a solo, on his chase debut at Down Royal and did the same when chasing Fakir D’oudairies in the Drinmore at Fairyhouse.
Gordon Elliott’s, inset, charge was challenging the leader when getting it wrong at the second last and paying the penalty, leaving Fakir to earn a bloodless victory.
It remains to be seen whether Samcro will reach the expected heights over the bigger obstacles. But, as a seven-year-old, he undoubtedly has the potential to be a star.
And he’s preferred today to nine-time Grade 1 winner and former champion hurdler Faugheen, successful on his fencing debut at Punchestown, when he recovered from a horrendous mistake to beat Walk Away emphatically.
It’s hard to know how much is in the engine with the 11-year-old. But he’ll prove a tough rival for Samcro today in a race where Jimmy Mangan’s Castlebrook, third to Getabird at Punchestown, having scored on his chasing debut in Wexford, will have plenty of each-way supporters.
Declan Queally’s Dreamingandhoping, an unconsidered 66/1 shot when chasing home the classy Bigbadandbeautiful in a competitive listed event at Navan on her debut, should be very tough to beat in the mares bumper.
The Willie Mullins-trained Unexpected created a favourable impression on his Irish debut in Gowran Park last month and, with Patrick in the saddle, might follow-up in the Signsplus Hurdle.
Gordon Elliott’s Easywork, also successful at Gowran Park, and solid staying chaser Discorama are the dangers.