WITH Sandown’s Imperial Cup card unfortunately called off today, more attention will be directed to Ayr via ITV’s television cameras and here lies a good opportunity for Adrian Keatley, who will have his first runner as a Britain-based trainer.
Uniquely, he could gain this first win from the horse who gave him his final win in Ireland, Drumconnor Lad, who represents the the classic-winning trainer in the Tennents Light Handicap Chase at Ayr (1:55).
Keatley moved over to Malton, Yorkshire at the beginning of the year and is currently sharing Tony Coyle’s yard, with the aim to find his own place and begin building up a larger string of horses.
But in the meantime there is lots to look forward to with Drumconnor Lad, who could give himself a chance of making the cut for the Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate, as a win would translate into a 5lb penalty, moving his mark up to 140.
“He’s in good form and we’re looking forward to running him,” Keatley said yesterday. “I haven’t looked at the betting but I’d imagine he’s favourite. The form he has from that race at Leopardstown is fairly strong and we’re hoping he can improve from it anyway, and continue an upward trajectory.
“We could look at his Cheltenham entry but he’d have to be very well in himself on Monday and Tuesday for us to really consider it. I’m not too worried about it anyway because we have other races in the pipeline for him – maybe one of the consolation races at Kempton next Saturday or there is a good handicap chase at Newbury the week after.”
The 10-year-old gelding, who will again be partnered by Adrian Heskin, faces just five runners, which include an interesting contender in Roxboro Road, who will have his first start for Ben Haslam having made the switch from Ted Walsh’s yard.
It was around this time last year he hit form, winning a novice chase at Leopardstown and then bolting up over hurdles at Fairyhouse.
Elsewhere at Ayr, the Tennent’s Lager Handicap Hurdle (3:05) is all the more interesting for the inclusion of the returning The Dutchman. Now 10 and having his first start for Tristian Davidson, having previously been trained by Colin Tizzard, the former Peter Marsh Chase winner will race off a 6lb lower hurdles mark here.
HAVING trailed Darragh O’Keeffe by a double-figure amount earlier in the season, Kevin Brouder now only trails his conditional jockeys’ title rival by just five wins.
It is a freak year for Irish conditional jockeys. Brouder’s current total of 40 wins would already be enough to easily win the last three championships. Brouder, who scored twice at the Dublin Racing Festival, has been operating at a very healthy strike rate of 17% and an amazing €144.06 level stakes profit. He has three more rides this weekend to narrow the gap further. Meanwhile, his brother Gavin is showing signs he could be set to follow a similar trajectory. Two of his six wins this season came at Leopardstown this week, where he took the valuable TRI Equestrian Handicap Chase on Gun Digger before returning to the track to score again on My Manekineko on Monday.
For the former success, Gun Digger’s trainer Gordon Elliott pointed to the rider’s claim as a reason for the horse’s upturn in form. Gavin will team up with Elliott again for the feature races at Gowran today and Naas tomorrow.
He partners Diamond Turf who looks well treated for the Holden Plants Rentals Shamrock Handicap Chase (4:00) at Gowran and in the MansionBet-backed Leinster National at Naas (3:15), he’ll team up with former Irish Grand National winner General Principle, who showed a spark on his latest start and races off a mark 8lbs lower than his National win.
TOMORROW will be a great time to back a winner ahead of Cheltenham and punters can look forward to a quality card at Naas. Aside from the featured Leinster National, there are two Grade 3 races, one for novice chasers and one for novice hurdlers.
The Naas Directors Plate Novice Chase includes Gallant John Joe and Royal Rendezvous, who both have form tied in with the Arkle favourites Notebook and Cash Back, while the majority of the line-up for the Kingsfurze Novice Hurdle would not be out of place at any of the Grade 1 novice hurdles at Cheltenham. Beacon Edge performed with real credit at this course when last seen and could set himself up for a good spring campaign with a win here.
Meanwhile at Gowran Park today, the Holden Plant Rentals Shamrock Handicap Chase is the feature and looks like another nice opportunity for the somewhat frustrating Debuchet.