RACING:CURRAGH TRAINER Sabrina Harty knows what is required to win today's main support event at Leopardstown and the fact she pitches Kalann into the race is a tip for punters to latch on to.
Won In The Dark landed the Grade Two Bord na Mona Fire Magic Juvenile Hurdle in 2007 as part of a hugely successful season that culminated in top-flight success at Punchestown.
He was a perfect advertisement for Harty’s ability with juvenile hurdlers and Kalann could be a horse to travel the same sort of path based on his jumping debut at Fairyhouse earlier this month.
Just 11 days after winning on the flat at Dundalk, Kalann was pitched straight into Grade Three company and acquitted himself well by finding only Toner D’Oudairies too good.
Not surprisingly his jumping was not perfectly fluent at times but the value of that experience could be crucial as Kalann again faces Toner D’Oudairies on 3lb better terms for two and a half lengths.
Toner D’Oudairies certainly hasn’t frightened anyone away from a rematch as the first five from Fairyhouse clash again but an eyecatching newcomer is the mare What A Charm.
This dour stayer won the November Handicap here off a mark of 98 in hugely-impressive style and has been moved from John Oxx’s yard to Arthur Moore for a winter campaign.
Heavy ground will be no problem to What A Charm, based on her flat form and she brings a touch of flat race quality to this event. However, Kalann can advertise the value of a first run over flights by scoring in the €50,000 highlight.
Top flat trainer Dermot Weld, successful here yesterday in the feature, will be busy today and his principal focus will be on the opening maiden hurdle where Hidden Universe starts his jumping career.
The smooth winner of last season’s Champion Bumper at Punchestown, Hidden Universe reappeared on the flat at Navan in October and was an expensive failure when only fourth at odds-on. His bumper form makes him a very exciting prospect for the winter game and that last effort can be forgotten with a victory now.
Weld has Endless Intrigue in the other maiden hurdle but this looks a hot little event where Shot From The Hip should prove very hard to beat.
Edward O’Grady’s horse was another top bumper performer from last season and looked set to improve significantly from his jumping debut at Naas last month when runner up to Frisco Depot.
Fool’s Wildcat won impressively here on Tuesday and has just a 6lb penalty for that five-length defeat of Harold’s Cross and Tadhg in today’s two-and-a-quarter-mile handicap hurdle.
A quick follow-up looks entirely possible while Idarah, runner-up at Listowel in his first start for a year and a half, can go one better for trainer Paul Cashman in the two-mile handicap chase.
Mickelson has ground to make up on Serein in the bumper on the evidence of their last meeting but Nina Carberry’s mount can bridge the gap.
