LEOPARDSTOWN PREVIEW:SUBLIMITY GAVE his trainer Rob Hennessy a never-to-be-forgotten success in last year's final day Grade One highlight at Leopardstown and the former champion hurdler can repeat the feat against Solwhit this afternoon.
Colm Murphy’s decision to run Voler La Vedette in today’s Listed Hurdle for mares instead of the December Festival Hurdle means just seven line up for the €90,000 feature.
They include proven top-flight performers like Won In The Dark, Muirhead and Jumbo Rio but for many this will be a race that centres on Solwhit who is currently a 6 to 1 joint-second favourite in ante-post betting for the Champion Hurdle in March.
A defeat of Muirhead and Hurricane Fly in last month’s Morgiana at Punchestown catapulted the Charles Byrnes-trained runner to the forefront of the Cheltenham betting and there were excuses for his subsequent defeat in the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle.
In contrast, Sublimity’s chances of repeating his 2007 Champion Hurdle success are generally dismissed at 25 to 1 by the bookmakers but whatever about March he still looks the value option in today’s context.
Hennessy enjoyed a first winner as a trainer with Sublimity’s victory in this race a year ago but for a while that looked like being something of a last glorious hurrah for the horse. Sublimity cut no ice at Cheltenham and afterwards Hennessy decided to give him a wind operation.
The initial response was impressive with the nine-year-old finishing on the heels of no less than Alandi in the Saval Beg Stakes here in May and then returning to jumping with a vengeance in that controversial Fighting Fifth. What was initially dismissed as a farcical event looks a bit different now that Go Native has gone on to win again and in what turned out to be a speed race, there’s no getting away from how Sublimity was clearly superior to Solwhit on the run-in at Newcastle.
Despite approaching the veteran stage, speed remains a clear strongpoint for Sublimity and around the relatively tight inside track at Leopardstown that is a plus. A stronger pace shouldn’t be an issue either as it will help Philip Carberry’s mount settle better.
“I suppose if Solwhit comes back to his best he is going to be hard to beat but our horse is at least as good as he was last year,” Hennessy said yesterday.
“The palate operation has really turned him around and he seems happier in himself and his attitude is a lot better. The ground is also drying out all the time so it should be perfect,” he added.
Go Native’s exploits since finishing 15 lengths off Voler La Vedette at Down Royal last month make Colm Murphy’s mare an intriguing prospect at the top level but the Co Wexford trainer is keeping his powder dry just yet.
Instead of taking on the big boys today, Murphy is taking in the Listed hurdle for mares and on figures Voler La Vedette looks to have a straight-forward task ahead of a possible tilt at the Irish Champion Hurdle back here next month.
The two-and-a-half-mile maiden hurdle is a long way removed from the 2007 classics, in which Acapulco ran ninth to Authorized in the Derby and eighth to Lucarno in the Leger, but Edward O’Grady’s runner will be a major fancy to break his duck over jumps.
Acapulco failed by a short head to Seven Days at Cork earlier in the month but he could be vulnerable again today against the prolific bumper horse Start Me Up who had a tough task on his jumping debut against Hugo de Vindecy at Punchestown.
The Beginners Chase today looks a hot enough event with the likes of Sam Adams, Jessies Dream and Zaarito sure to have their supporters. Preference, though, is for Chasing Cars who returned to action in a hot race at Navan behind Sports Line and ran a fine third in the circumstances.
Tom Mullins has his horses in decent form and Some Slam should be checked out in the bumper on the evidence of an impressive winning debut at Listowel in September.
Townend takes over from Walsh on heavily-backed Cooldine
THE FINAL shape of the rescheduled Lexus Chase won't be known until later today but yesterday's disastrous fog at Leopardstown has already worked out well for jockey Paul Townend who is set to partner Cooldine, writes Brian O'Connor.
Willie Mullins's Cheltenham Gold Cup hope was a well-backed favourite for yesterday's big race only for the meeting to be called off due to the weather conditions.
Ruby Walsh's commitments at Newbury today, which include Big Bucks in the Long Walk Hurdle, mean he is unable to partner Cooldine and Mullins has turned to Townend instead. However, Joncol looks the pick of a quality field despite the jockey shuffle.
Townend carried the Cooldine colours of Archie O'Leary to a Grade One success at Leopardstown on Sunday aboard Golden Silver in the Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase. Mullins's other runner, J'y Vole, will be ridden by David Casey.
Britain's champion trainer Paul Nicholls was last evening also hunting for a jockey for What A Friend as Barry Geraghty is due to ride at Newbury today too.
The complexion of the final day of Leopardstown's Christmas festival in total has been rejigged.
With the Lexus added to the card, it will now be an eight-race fixture, starting at 11.50. The Lexus will be the fourth race, and the first chase, and is due off at 1.25. The Grade One December Festival Hurdle will start at 2.0.
"There is a slight frost forecast but nothing of any consequence," clerk of the course, Joe Collins, said yesterday. "In fact we might get some rain tomorrow."
In reaction to yesterday's events, Leopardstown's management have confirmed an admission price of €15 today, a €10 drop from yesterday's charge. It was noticeable yesterday how much support there was for Cooldine for his first public appearance of the season.
Certainly Willie Mullins's comments that the horse would strip fitter for the run didn't stop a lot of money going on.
Townend has ridden the horse twice before, winning on him on his first start over fences at Thurles last season, and subsequently finishing third in a Grade One at Leopardstown.
Another major Irish hope for the Lexus is Joncol whose jockey Alain Cawley was originally due to ride at Limerick today. However, Cawley is likely to be among a long list of jockeys whose arrangements are set to be changed today on the back of yesterday's events.
