TIME TO GET ALL GIDDY
Jason Heavey’s race by race tips on day four
1.30 JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1)
THE absence of Sir Gino for out-of-form Nicky Henderson has suddenly given the first race a wide-open look.
Sir Gino looked the best juvenile in the UK by a country mile and was regarded by many as a banker, but he has succumbed to the malaise afflicting Seven Barrows.
Willie Mullins has the first three in the betting – Majborough, Storm Heart and Kargese.
But I’m going for the progressive NURBURGRING (nap) to overtake them all.
A good horse on the Flat – rated in the 90s – he managed to win over two miles on the level and with the New course placing an emphasis on stamina, he should appreciate every yard of the trip on testing ground.
There is little between him and Kargese – a talented mare who has won two from three hurdles and who gets the 7lb sex allowance.
Mullins runs seven in total and Kargese looks like the pick although Paul Townend has chosen Storm Heart, who has done little wrong, while Majborough has been punted into favouritism.
Of the others, Salver is unbeaten and does not deserve to be as big as 14-1 while Fratas also has the look of an overpriced horse at 25-1.
TIP: NURBURGRING (nap)
EACH-WAY: Salver
2.10 BetMGM County Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap)
IN-FORM Dan Skelton has won four of the last eight runnings of this two-mile cavalry charge and saddles a likely pair today.
Faivoir was mugged in the Imperial Cup on Saturday and won this race last year.
But Harry Skelton has plumped for the lightly raced L’EAU DU SUD who put up a career best when second in the Betfair Hurdle to Iberico Lord.
He pulled six lengths clear of the third Go Dante, who nailed Faivoir last Saturday, and L’Eau Du Sud has been raised 6lb, which looks more than fair.
Owned by Sir Alex Ferguson and his pals – who had two winners yesterday – he should give the former Man United boss a good run for his money. Willie Mullins runs five in total – with Melbourne Cup seventh Absurde among his best hopes although he would prefer better ground.
Zenta also has strong claims.
Bialystock was going well when brought down at Leopardstown and is another for the short list, while Gordon Elliott’s King Of Kingsfield has been heavily backed.
Emmet Mullins has a right chance with So Scottish who caught the eye on his last start.
I also like Hansard as an each-way play at around 25-1. He is improving and has had a light campaign so will be fresh.
His fifth to Luccia in December reads well form-wise.
TIP: L’EAU DU SUD
EACH-WAY: Hansard
2.50 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) Registered as the Spa Novices’ Hurdle
THE Irish have dominated the novice events but GIDLEIGH PARK is tipped to strike for the home team.
Harry Fry thinks the world of the six-year-old who is unbeaten in four starts under Rules.
He agonised over which race to target but clearly played a blinder in avoiding Ballyburn on Wednesday.
This longer trip should play to Gidleigh Park’s stamina strengths and he can repel a very solid challenge from the Emerald Isle.
His three hurdles victories have come impressively with him hitting the line strongly each time and his Grade Two victory over Lucky Place (fourth in the Coral Cup) showed he can handle the contours of Prestbury Park.
Captain Teague has a similar profile, and he already has Grade One form in the bag when taking the Challow Hurdle at Newbury.
Paul Nicholls has trained him for today.
The Willie Mullins juggernaut comprises five runners with the unbeaten High Class Hero and
Readin Tommy Wrong at the head of affairs.
Both look lovely prospects, as does Dancing City.
Of the bigger prices, The Jukebox Man is a likeable type for Ben Pauling and Harry Redknapp.
He has place prospects at an attractive 25-1.
TIP: GIDLEIGH PARK
EACH-WAY: The Jukebox Man
4.10 St. James’s Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Chase
PREMIER MAGIC won this race last year and has every chance of doubling up.
He is now 11 and has more upwardly mobile rivals to see off but is ultra consistent and it is two years since he was beaten.
A prolific winner of hunter chases and point-to-points, he held the late run of Its On The Line 12 months ago.
He followed up in May back at the track and after a long break he returned in January to win a point, following up in another in February. At 7-1 he looks a better punting proposition than Its On The Line.
The latter was recently bought by JP McManus and will go off favourite. He is a dour stayer but can race lazily and give himself too much to do.
He deserves to be favourite on what he has achieved this season but his price looks too skinny.
There is confidence behind the talented Ferns Lock but his tendency to race freely might catch out his stamina up the hill.
Billaway won this two years ago and cannot be ruled out despite his age (12). Samcro won the Gallagher Novices’ Hurdle six years ago and has been revitalised in points. Ramillies and Sine Nomine are each-way candidates. The latter mare is the dark horse of the race and should go well at around 12-1.
TIP: PREMIER MAGIC
EACH-WAY: Sine Nomine
4.50 Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase (Grade 2) Registered as the Liberthine Mares’ Chase
DINOBLUE has been widely touted as another Willie Mullins banker but she is likely to go off odds-on.
Her stamina is unproven and with today’s conditions likely to be attritional she looks vulnerable.
So preference is for a mare with proven stamina – LIMERICK LACE.
She was second in the Troytown Chase to Coko Beach in bad ground and has been versatile enough to win at all distances.
She looks stronger this season and Gavin Cromwell has talked her up with confidence.
She bolted up at Doncaster in a Listed chase last time out and that was a perfect prep race.
Limerick Lace also gets 5lb from Dinoblue which could prove pivotal and today’s 2m 4f test on deep ground looks ideal for JP McManus’s raider.
Allegorie De Vassy was second last year and has every chance again.
Cromwell’s other runner
Brides Hill is much improved and unbeaten this season so cannot be ruled out.
Marsh Wren revelled in the soft ground to win a Listed chase at Thurles last month and there is no way she should be as big as 25-1.
She will stay and enjoy the conditions and is an excellent jumper.
TIP: LIMERICK LACE
EACH-WAY: Marsh Wren
5.30 Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle
IT seems word has got out about QUAI DE BOURBON (trb), who may be thrown in at the weights in the “getting out” stakes.
Willie Mullins produced an unexposed young horse called Galopin Des Champs to win this three years ago off a handicap mark of 142.
Quai De Bourbon may not reach the heights of his stablemate but he is clearly thought better than a rating of 140 and punters have been piling into him all week.
He was nothing more than workmanlike in winning at Naas and Clonmel and his real future looks over fences as he is a big unit. He also looks like a stayer and if he is contention turning into the home straight he should gallop all the way to the line.
Mullins’ Ocastle Des Mottes was made favourite for the Betfair Hurdle and was not disgraced in eighth.
That was his first run since arriving from France and he may need more time. Waterford Whispers is the other one for money while No Ordinary Joe only found Iroko too good in this race 12 months ago.
Answer To Kayf is another for the short list while What’s Up Darling probably had an impossible task trying to give a stone to Langtry Lady (fourth to Lossiemouth on Tuesday) and he looks to have gone under the bookies’ radar at 16-1.
TIP: QUAI DE BOURBON (trb)
EACH-WAY: What’s Up Darling