Don’t underestimate temps after leopardstown

Tuesday 1.30pm

Sky Bet Supreme Novice Hurdle

(Grade 1) 2m 87y

Defeat at the hands of stable companion Il Etait Temps will see Facile Vega head to Cheltenham to attempt the Champion Bumper and Supreme Novices’ Hurdle double without the air of invincibility his Christmas performance commanded.

Willie Mullins did not hesitate in confirming the Supreme still to be the target in the aftermath of the reverse, citing the strong early pace as his gelding’s undoing. And he has a case as, along with High Definition, he was around 20 lengths quicker than State Man into the back straight.

Victory at the Festival last season was achieved when racing off the pace and following the Dublin Racing Festival we can expect similar tactics to be employed. In surging clear of American Mike on the climb to the line the son of Walk In The Park demonstrated his effectiveness at the track.

Marine Nationale made a low-key start to his hurdling career before propelling himself into the upper echelon of the novice hurdle ranks with a last-gasp victory in the Grade 1 Royal Bond Hurdle.

Barry Connell’s gelding travelled noticeably well at Fairyhouse against a very strong pace set by Prairie Dancer whose early exertions broke the race apart to such an extent there were only four with a chance entering the home straight. As the four protagonists were Irish Point, Ashroe Diamond and Grade 1 winner Champ Kiely, the performance can only be viewed as top class.

A mistake at the final hurdle almost derailed his winning challenge, albeit with Michael O’Sullivan quickly organising the partnership, and the son of French Navy knew exactly what was required of him as - neck stretched in effort - he wrestled victory from the jaws of defeat.

Not only did Il Etait Temps lower the colours of his more illustrious stable mate, he surpassed his - and Marine Nationale’s - best achievement on the clock in the process. In the hands of Danny Mullins the five-year-old ran out a comfortable winner despite fighting his rider through the early stages.

The closing sectionals were unsurprisingly slow, although in posting a final circuit time just 0.1secs slower than State Man any suspicions of a complete pace collapse are dispelled.

In an Irish dominated market Tahmuras is the shortest price of the home challengers after his victory in the Tolworth Hurdle. Paul Nicholls’ horse exhibited his considerable ability and inexperience in equal measure at Sandown. His relative inexperience, against the more battle-hardened Irish runners, may count against him at Cheltenham.

Fabulous fabiolo on

track for jonbon revenge

Tuesday 2.10pm

Sporting Life Arkle Novices’ Chase

(Grade 1) 1m 7f 199y

Jonbon rounded off his novice hurdle campaign with a narrow victory over El Fabiolo in a Grade 1 at Aintree, and the pair are on a collision course again, only this time over fences.

Jonbon has looked a natural over fences and the early indications are the J.P. McManus-owned gelding is already a better chaser than hurdler.

The telling feature of his victory in the Henry VIII Novices’ Chase was the blistering turn of foot he produced when Boothill moved into a challenging position on the approach to the second last fence. In covering the ground from the Pond Fence in 38.7secs the seven-year-old was 2.5secs quicker than Tingle Creek Chase winner Edwardstone.

It is fair to say El Fabiolo was less than convincing at his fences on debut at Fairyhouse. However, when presented with a lead, and a strong one at that, by stablemate Dysart Dynamo in the Goffs Irish Arkle the six-year-old thrived and recorded the fastest novice chase time of the season over the minimum trip.

Jockey Daryl Jacob was in control

of the race from two out.

When he asked his mount to seal the contest after jumping the final fence, El Fabiolo powered clear.

Admittedly, circuit time comparisons with Gold Cup favourite Galopin Des Champs are a little tenuous, given the Arkle field covered seven furlongs fewer than the Irish Gold Cup. However, El Fabiolo recorded a final circuit 3.7secs quicker than his illustrious stablemate.

There is no in-between with Dysart Dynamo, who doesn’t appear to have a speed in between slow and flat-out. After being surprisingly slow on his chasing debut at Leopardstown he was electric at the Dublin Racing Festival.

The presence of the seven-year-old here may be crucial to the outcome of the race as he could well present repeat circumstances for his fellow Closutton resident. Appreciate It looked destined to rate higher as a chaser at Punchestown and Naas. Although he achieved this at Leopardstown he looked short of pace in the heat of a two-mile battle.

Supreme performance will see Hill on top

Tuesday 3.30

Unibet Champion Hurdle

(Grade 1) 2m 87y

The superlatives written and spoken about Constitution Hill are fully justified as the six-year-old has all the credentials to be a multiple winner of the Champion Hurdle. But horse racing is never that simple, or is it?

A repeat of last year’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle performance will see the six-year-old turn the race into a procession, and as Nicky Henderson’s gelding has also posted the fastest time figure of the field this season, when winning the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle, it may just turn out to be the case.

State Man will present a different challenge to beating Epatante, as he continues to collect Grade 1 contests on home soil without coming off the bridle.

Victory in the Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown was the best of his performances on the clock, as he quickened clear late in the race posting a closing sectional at least 15 lengths quicker than the other winners on the card.

With Honeysuckle going down the Mares’ Hurdle route, Vauban and First Street will appeal as the each-way alternatives to the front two in the market.

Rich Ricci’s five-year-old was no match for State Man at the Dublin Racing Festival, although would arguably have finished second if not jumping out to the right at the final hurdle.

First Street’s second to State Man in last year’s County Hurdle is a high level of Festival form.

Marie’s Rock solid standard

Tuesday 4.10pm

Close Brothers Mares Hurdle

(Grade 1) 2m 3f 300y

The presence of Honeysuckle and possibly Epatante will make life difficult for Marie’s Rock to defend her crown. However, judged on her seasonal debut at Cheltenham she heads to the Festival in rude health, following victory in a belated return to action in the Relkeel Hurdle where she readily outpaced Dashel Drasher. The daughter of Milan supplemented the fastest time on the card over hurdles, when adjusted for distance, with a circuit time 4.7secs or 24 lengths quicker than best of the rest Hector Javilex.

The key statistic from last year’s renewal was Nicky Henderson’s mare covered the ground from the fourth last hurdle quicker than Honeysuckle, who was three and a half lengths in front of Epatante.

Of those reopposing from last season Echoes In Rain has claims on reducing the margin of defeat as she was caught in the backwash of Indefatigable falling. Willie Mullins’ mare impressed at Naas recently and she was creeping closer when falling at the second last in the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle.

Love Envoi proved her wellbeing at Sandown, while Brandy Love has yet to see the track this season. Both novices from last season will need to improve to reach the standard of their older rivals.

This article is taken from The Irish Field Cheltenham Magazine 2023. CLICK HERE TO ORDER YOUR COPY