Racing Chat- Sunday 4th February

[The Brigadier]

Leopardstown 1.10

The 2M 5 1/2F Ladbrokes Novice Chase is a grade 1 contest which has attracted just the five runners, three from Willie Mullins and a brace from Gordon Elliott. Gaelic Warrior has looked smart in winning both of his starts over fences this season and he’ll be hard to beat with so much in his favour. Stable companion Fact To File is also potentially smart and can give him a race for a Willie Mullins 1-2.

 

GAELIC WARRIOR 1 point win @ 11/10 William Hill

 

Musselburgh 1.20

The Scottish Triumph Hurdle is a listed juvenile hurdle for four year olds run over just short of two miles and has attracted a decent field of nine. The two to concentrate on are the Jack Jones trained An Bradan Feasa and Paul Nicholls’s Liari and its the latter who maybe able to outclass his opponents despite a 5lb penalty. He comes here unbeaten in two starts at Wincanton and Aintree and with Harry Cobden in the saddle and riding so well looks the one to be with.

 

LIARI 1 point win @ 15/8 bet365

 

Leopardstown 1.40

The Tattersalls Ireland 50th Derby Sale Novice Hurdle is a Grade 1 contest with ten lining up to face the judge. Once again we have a short Willie Mullins trained favourite in Ballyburn who put a respectable defeat by Firefox behind him when bolting up in a maiden hurdle here at big odds on. He beat little that day and this will be more exacting especially dropping back to the minimum trip but he looks smart and is the one they all have to beat. Mullins saddles five in the race but it maybe well be the Gordon Elliot trained Farren Glory that offers the most resistance to the selection.

 

BALLYBURN 1 point win @ Evens William Hill

 

Musselburgh 1.50

A field of seven face the starter for this 2M class 3 handicap chase in which all seven have a chance of sorts. Paul Nicholls sends a seven strong challenge to Scotland and looks likely to have a good day which can include his six year old Beau Balko. This will be only his fourth start over fences with his latest second to Chanceaux already boosted by that one winning again since at Doncaster. Off of the same handicap mark and with the added assistance of Harry Cobden on board can go one better here.

 

BEAU BALKO 1 point win @ 9/4 William Hill

 

Leopardstown 2.10

Just the five go to post for the Grade 1 Ladbrokes Dublin Chase where its very hard to look past he Willie Mullins trained El Fabiolo who’s five from five over fences including the Grade ones over two miles for novices at last year’s meeting and the Cheltenham and Punchestown Festivals. He teed up for this with an easy win at Cork in December and it will be a major shock were he not to score again. Mullins smart mare Dinoblue can chase him home for a yet another 1-2 for the master of Closutton.

 

Musselburgh 2.25

An interesting renewal of the bet365 Scottish Supreme Novice’s Hurdle featuring seven promising hurdlers. The best form is probably brought to the table by the Irish trained Hypotenus but I’m happy to take him on with the Fergal O’Brien trained Recoup who made a winning debut over hurdles at Ludlow back in late October when getting the better of the Henderson runner Choccabloc in a ding dong battle on the run in. He’ll need to improve on that but as he’s so lightly raced that’s quite possible and he looks the value play under Paddy Brennan.

 

RECOUP 1 point win @ 4/1 Betfred

 

Leopardstown 2.45

Just the five again for the 2M Chantelle Pharma Irish Champion Hurdle. Willie Mullins saddles three of the quintet including the most likely winner in State Man who has only been beaten the once in eleven starts for Mullins and that was by Constitution Hill in last year’s Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham. He has already beaten stablemate Impaire Et Passe this season who can again chase him home again for yet another 1-2 for team Mullins.

 

Musselburgh 3.00

A good turnout for this class 2 Pertemps Network Group Handicap Hurdle run over 3M with a maximum fifteen declared to run. Despite the numbers it’s not the strongest of races and it may pay to stick with Gordon Elliott’s Irish challenger Absolute Notions. A winner of three of his six career start as he makes his handicap debut here from a mark of 143 and has some good novice hurdle form to his name from last season including when runner up to Good Land in a Grade 1 novice hurdle at this very meeting. He missed two outings in December due to the heavy ground so today’s drier terrain looks sure to suit and can reward an each way wager with additional places.

 

ABSOLUTE NOTIONS 1 point each way @ 9/2 bet365 1/5th 1234

 

Leopardstown 3.20

In contrast to the previous races at Leopardstown today we have a highly competitive 25 runner Grade 3 handicap chase where many have chances and will need plenty of luck. Leading owner J P McManus runs four and it maybe the Gavin Cromwell trained Inothewayurthinkin who’s worth an each way wager with additional places. A lightly raced six year old he’s shown some smart form in three novice chases won by the likes of Imagine and Gaelic Warrior and is making his handicap debut here off of what may turn out to be a workable mark.

 

INOTHERWAYURTHINKIN 1 point each way @ 6/1 bet365 1/5th 123456

 

Musselburgh 3.35

Nine chasers line up for this 2m 4 1/2F bet365 Scottish Champion Chase. Paul Nicholls can cap a good day at the Scottish track by taking this with his eight year old Outlaw Peter who will be having his fourth start over fences with his best effort coming at Kempton last time out when a 1 1/2L runner up to Blow Your Wad. A reproduction of that effort should see him go close.

 

OUTLAW PETER 1 point win @ 7/2 Coral

 

[azzybear]

paco 9.45 franc