RACING:ANDREW LYNCH has cut a swathe through this winter's top races and the in-form jockey will hope to continue his hot-streak when teaming up for the first time with Saturday's Boylesports Hurdle favourite Scottish Boogie.
Trainer Charles Byrnes confirmed yesterday Lynch will team up with his big-race hope, who has been installed a 5 to 1 clear favourite with the sponsors.
Scottish Boogie had been ridden in his two previous starts by Paul Carberry, who faces up to six weeks on the sidelines with a broken collarbone sustained in a skiing accident last week.
“Carberry would have had to ride for Noel Meade anyway so Andrew Lynch had been booked,” Byrnes said yesterday. “The horse is in good old form and the ground shouldn’t be too much of a problem to him. There’s a nice drop of rain forecast for the week ahead.”
Lynch has scored Grade One victories in the last two months on board Sizing Europe (Tingle Creek), Voler La Vedette (Hatton’s Grace), Rubi Light (John Durkan) and Cash And Go (Future Champions.)
Ground conditions at Leopardstown yesterday were officially “good” ahead of the new “January Jumping Weekend” fixture which sees the Boylesports – formerly known as the MCR and the Pierse among its various titles – take centre stage on Saturday, with the BHP Insurance Irish Champion Hurdle the highlight of Sunday’s action.
A total of 34 entries were left in the Boylesports yesterday but there was no sign of the JP McManus-owned Reizovic who had been the only one previously threatening Scottish Boogie’s status as ante-post favourite.
Both horses ran at the Dublin course over Christmas when Scottish Boogie was third, and Reizovic fifth, behind Cass Bligh who is also on target to turn this weekend. Saturday’s big race will be run on the outer track at Leopardstown.
Last year’s winner, Final Approach, was trained by Willie Mullins and the champion trainer has left five in the race this time including Sunday’s Grade Two chase winner Blazing Tempo. She was described as an “iron mare” by Mullins after beating Noble Prince two days ago and she is rated significantly lower over hurdles by the handicapper.
Robert Tyner reports the veteran Askthemaster ready to return to the fray after winning a 12-runner handicap hurdle over two and a quarter miles at the Dublin track on St Stephen’s Day.
“He’s in good order. He did a grand job the last day. It was his first run back and it will have put him spot-on for Saturday,” said the Co Cork trainer.
Tom George has withdrawn Olofi, as expected, leaving Pat Murphy’s Temlett as the only remaining cross-channel entry.
Edward O’Grady’s Staying Article and the Mullins-trained Sweet My Lord were top of the weights yesterday, while Arthur Moore is set to try and extend his great record in the race with the high-class dual-purpose mare What A Charm.
Moore will also be represented in Saturday’s Leopardstown Chase as the Irish Grand National winner, Organisedconfusion, is among 33 entries left in the main support event.
BOYLESPORTS HURDLE BETTING: (Sponsors bet): 5 Scottish Boogie, 14 Askthemaster, Plan A, Citizenship, 16 bar.
