The only regret from a fabulous two days of the Dublin Racing Festival was wondering just how high the decibels from the stands would have reached when Honeysuckle touched down over the last in the Chanelle Phama Champion Hurdle.
Last year, after she had won, we had a, “will she, won’t she” debate before Honeysuckle was committed to the Mares’ Hurdle but this year the vibe is ‘all systems go’ for a crack at the Champion Hurdle and a match with another mare, the reigning champion Epatante.
Rachael Blackmore acknowledged what we all saw, this was the sweetest Honeysuckle ever travelled, she jumped better and had the race won by the turn-in.
Abacadabras may improve for better ground and Sharjah never seems to run two consecutive races the same, but now there is more evidence that Goffs Punchestown Sale graduate Honeysuckle has the speed for two miles, and we know from last year she has stamina and will to win up that hill.
Getting the fractions right to negate Epatante’s turn of foot will be the dilemma in Blackmore’s lap. But we know she’s up to that task and has the most willing of partners.
She can follow Annie Power and Faugheen who also came back from two and a half miles, and further, to win the Champion. Another point in her favour that Epatante is without the benefit of Barry Geraghty’s skills and it will only be the third time Aidan Coleman teams up with the Henderson mare.
Arkle OR MARSH thriller?
Perhaps the most impressive performance of the Dublin Racing Festival was that of Energumene in the Patrick Ward & Company Solicitors Irish Arkle Novice Chase. He won in a faster time than the Champion Chase favourite Chacun Pour Soi recorded earlier.
When all those Ten to Follow lists were being compiled at the season warmed up, few had put in this gelding who had only won a Gowran maiden hurdle on the track last season. He was odds-on then and was again in all three of his novice chases, as he went through the grades. But he will be taking on an odds-on favourite in Cheltenham in the shape of last year’s Supreme Novices’ winner Shishkin - should he go to the Arkle not the Marsh where Envoi Allen awaits.
It’s shades of that great Ireland versus England duel between Bobsline and Noddy’s Ryde back in the 1984 Arkle, and they have similar running styles with Energumene the front runner this time.
Strangely, Energumene won an English point-to-point in Larkhill and is running for Ireland while Shishkin won an Irish point-to-point in Lingstown and is on the English side now!
The Arkle is very often won by the horse who was the best novice hurdler and the one slight negative against Energumene is that this will be his first run at Cheltenham. If Dan Skelton chooses to run Allmankind, it could add a bit of pressure to Energumene too. You feel that Shishkin can wait and pounce but it’s a thriller to look forward to.
Patrick Mullins said in a few National Hunt season previews on the Mullins stars that Monkfish had been a bit timid when he started over hurdles but there’s nothing timid now about what looks to be an exceptional staying novice chaser. He’s three from three over fences and the way he raced away from the last in the Flogas Novice Chase brought back memories of another strapping chesnut in Denman.
Denman started at 6/5 for his RSA Chase in 2007 and Monkfish will be likewise. For a novice, he looks rock-solid. He has met and dispatched decent opposition in the shape of Latest Exhibition, and he showed the speed here to drop back a few furlongs and he also has course form, having won the three-mile Albert Bartlett last year. It’s risky having a novice as your banker – those with long memories recall what happened to Nick Dundee in 1999 - but it’s hard to see defeat for the latest Rich Ricci-owned star.
For the third year in a row, the race now known as the Goffs Future Stars Bumper at the Dublin Racing Festival will supply the Cheltenham Champion Bumper favourite.
This year’s winner Kilcruit cruised to victory looking every inch a future champion, making light of heavy ground to win by 12 lengths on the bridle.
A stiffer test and a stiffer track and Sir Gerhard awaits in Cheltenham and the Mullins camp have tended to win the Champion Bumper with their less-fancied runners in recent years, (Ferny Hollow, Relegate, Briar Hill, Champagne Fever were all over 10/1) but the form looks very strong. Footage from last year’s Festival preview nights shows that Kilcruit’s former trainer Tony Mullins held the son of Stowaway, bred by his mother Maureen and named after her home townland in Carlow (pronounced Kil-crut), in very high regard.
With the novice chase division so hot, it’s possible many of those with a bit of experience will go into the handicaps. Last year’s County Hurdle third Embittered, trained by Joseph O’Brien, was noted by many when finishing fourth in the Arkle as the trainer enjoyed a good weekend. Gigginstown don’t do handicaps but this is Cheltenham.
Gordon Elliott had a quiet period over December but his horses performed better at the DRF and there’s no better man to place his horses to win. Just last year Elliott took the Boodles, Grand Annual, Coral Cup and the two amateur riders’ races at the Festival, while he had placings with Black Tears, The Storyteller and Eclair De Beaufeu in the three big handicap hurdles.
Willie Mullins is as likely to win a handicap with an outsider and his Koshari ran on after an error behind stable outsider Maze Runner at Leopardstown. Stable companion Hook Up, fourth to Appreciate It, has plenty of experience for a novice going into handicaps.
Emmet Mullins’ The Shunter, third in the Matheson Chase, remains interesting going back up in trip. ?