Having been enthusiastic about Faugheen’s chance all along in the Neptune, I’m not going to desert him now. Before he was bought by Willie Mullins he actually did some work on my gallops here when the Slatterys had him during his point-to-point days and I know they had a high opinion of him. I know Willie does too.
I was very impressed by him when he won at Navan, less so when he won at Limerick at Christmas, but the ground didn’t help him there.
The Neptune is a race I’ve won in the past with Drumlargan and Mr Donovan but both won on heavy ground and I don’t think either of them could have on these conditions.
Red Sherlock has been impressive this season and is a big fancy but on the ground he might have to go a bit to confirm form with another of Willie’s horses, Rathvinden.
Faugheen looks the stable number one and I still think he can get the day off to a good start.
The RSA can be an attritional race, and gruelling for novices, but it should be different this time on the ground. I also think the two mile, five furlong race for novices tomorrow will take a bit out of it.
Horses that in the past would have been sent over three miles now have a Grade One alternative.
I think Carlingford Lough has a good chance here. He has a lot of experience, winning a Galway Plate, runner-up in a Kerry National, and I know connections think he's in terrific form still. He was unlucky that Tony McCoy hit his foot off the wing at Leopardstown the last day but it might help him now because he didn't get into a hard finish.
And again the ground has to be a help to him. I like Ballycasey but I don’t like him coming here off a schooling fall at Leopardstown.
It's a disappointing looking Champion Chase but I'm told Captain Conan wasn't right when he was third on his last start and he is supposed to be right now. Two miles and good ground should play to his strengths and you'd have to say trainer and jockey know what they're doing when it comes to this race!
