Leopardstown Runners
12:10 Erratic Path & Rio De Cerisy
Erratic Path is a grand horse who will hopefully make up into a useful hurdler.
I’ve been happy with what he has shown us since he came into the yard and he looks like a horse who will appreciate a trip in time so this is why he is trying two and a half miles.
He hasn’t run since May so I’m expecting improvement from him but he should run a solid race.
Rio De Cerisy only got as far as the second hurdle on Wednesday and he is none the worse for that so he is turning out again quickly.
I’m anxious to get some experience into him and hopefully he will have a trouble free round this time.
He won a couple of times on the flat abroad and he seems a grand sort so it will be interesting to see how he gets on.
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12:45 Sire Du Berlais & Satoshi
Sire Du Berlais is not going to find it easy off top weight here but he is in good form and he looks to have come forward well from his comeback at Naas last month.
He has yet to win since coming to us but I think there is a good handicap hurdle in him as he showed when he was fourth in last season’s Martin Pipe.
I think the three mile trip will be fine for him and he should run a nice race.
Satoshi was well beaten in a Grade 2 at Navan last time but that was a messy race and I’m inclined to draw a line through his run there as he is a better horse than he got to show that day.
When he got his maiden hurdle in the stewards room that race was over two and three quarter miles so the extra couple of furlongs of this race won’t be an issue for him.
He has a nice, light weight and he could represent some each way value.
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13:20 Gun Digger
I’m pleased with how he has done since he has gone chasing.
He had a good first run in Gowran last month and that form already looks solid and he performed to a similar level at Navan last time when chasing home a smart horse of Henry de Bromhead’s.
Both of those runs would entitle him to run well and he should give a good account of himself.
13:50 Cracking Smart and Apple’s Jade
I’ve just had to take my time with Cracking Smart since he came back in from the summer and he was never going to run much before Christmas so the decision was made to keep him hurdling for this season.
He was a very good staying novice hurdler last season and it was a pity that he had to miss Cheltenham with a late setback as I thought he would have gone very well in the Albert Bartlett.
This is going to be a tough enough starting point for his season as he is taking on some quality stayers and he is going to need this run too so whatever he does here he will improve on dramatically.
Hopefully Apple’s Jade will be able to win this race for the second year in succession but you take absolutely nothing for granted at this level and we all saw how good Faugheen was when he moved up to three miles last season.
Her last performance at Fairyhouse was probably as good a display as she has ever put up since coming to us and she’s been in great form since then.
That last run makes her the one to beat and hopefully that will be the case.
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14:25 Monition & Serious Ego
Monition is going to have to step up now that he moves into a handicap and I’d have to say that he has plenty of weight for what he has done so far.
When he ran at Thurles last time I was a bit disappointed with him as thought he would have been closer.
Before that he showed up quite well in a maiden hurdle over this trip on decent ground and if he could return to that form he would have a chance of making his presence felt.
Serious Ego could run well. It’s taken us a little time to figure out his best trip but I think that this two and a half miles on decent ground will be ideal for him.
He has a bit to find on form but he is probably a bit better than he has shown lately and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him run well.
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15:00 Outlander, The Storyteller and Shattered Love
Outlander usually reserves his best for this race having won it two years ago and run third last year.
He is in good shape and hopefully the return to Leopardstown is going to bring out the best in him.
He was well beaten by Road To Respect when they met at Down Royal last month and he’s going to have to improve a good deal to turn the tables with that horse but he is a better horse at Leopardstown than he is anywhere else.
The Storyteller is in good shape and I think he will relish stepping back up to three miles following his run in the Durkan Chase where he was beaten less than five lengths into fourth.
He progressed well from his first run of the season to Punchestown and I think that there is more to come from him, especially at this trip.
This race will tell us what direction we need to take with him for the rest of the season.
Shattered Love ran a lovely race in the John Durkan where she finished out her race strongly to be beaten just a length and a half.
She is a Grade 1 course and distance winner and I do think that she will be able to hold her own in top company at this trip so I’m hopeful of a big run from her.
I would say that I’d prefer to see the ground a little easier for her but she has coped well with decent ground in the past.
15:35 Hell On Earth
He’s a nice type by the same sire as Samcro in Germany. Over the last few weeks he’s been coming together well in his work and he is showing enough to suggest that he is ready to start out for the season.
He will be green having not had the benefit of a previous run in a point-to-point so he will progress well from this run but hopefully he will represent us well.
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Limerick Runners
12:30 Allee Bleue
He pulled up on his first start for us at Navan recently but his saddle actually slipped so you can put a line through that run.
He was starting to get tired at the time he pulled up and he probably will need another run to be at his best but I do think that there is more to come from him as a chaser.
13:40 Farclas
This is a nice race for Farclas as he gets to take on his own age group rather than having to take on his elders.
I was very pleased with his comeback run in the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle when he finished sixth to Apple’s Jade and he has improved since then.
He is a Triumph Hurdle winner and that entitles him to take beating but this is a quality Grade 3 and it’s going to be tough enough for him to give eleven pounds to Stormy Ireland who was a very smart juvenile last season.
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14:10 Cool Getaway
He looked a lovely horse when he won his point-to-point two years ago but he’s had a couple of little hold ups that have kept him off until now.
It’s great to be able to get him started for the season but as he has been off for so long I’m expecting him to need this run and he will do better in due course.
14:45 It’s A Long Story
I thought that he would be able to give a good account of himself on his first run for us at Tramore a few weeks ago but he ran deplorably and was beaten after a couple of flights.
He is certainly better than he showed there so I’d be hoping for a much better effort this time.
15:20 Just A Boy
He started out with a lovely run in a Sligo bumper but he struggled afterwards and his first few runs over hurdles were disappointing.
However, his first handicap run at Clonmel a few weeks ago was much more encouraging and if he can build on that I’d hope that he will be able to get involved here.