Andrew Asquith, John Ingles and Tony McFadden assess the upcoming action, including the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse on Monday.
The All-Weather Championships culminate with the meetings at Lingfield and Newcastle on Good Friday. Who is your strongest fancy?
Andrew Asquith: I quite like the claims of Chancellor in the Mile (15:00) at Newcastle. He’s done nothing but progress since undergoing a breathing and gelding operation on the all-weather in recent months, winning a couple of times, including a facile success in listed company at Southwell. He narrowly failed to land the odds in the Winter Derby at Lingfield last time, but he was beaten by a thriving mare who has an excellent record on the all-weather, and that tight turning track probably wasn’t ideal for him. The return to a mile at a straight, galloping track can only see him in a better light and I’m of the opinion Chancellor can develop into a Group 1 performer this year. He has cheekpieces fitted now and I think he’ll have a bit too much class for these.
John Ingles: French-based Irish trainer Gavin Hernon went close to winning the mile handicap at Lingfield (15:50) 12 months ago with Sous La Neige and he shouldn’t be far away again given better luck in running than last year. Sous La Neige found himself a bit too far back last year before finishing well to be beaten half a length by Dingle, but he’s on a 2 lb lower mark this year and certainly a lot better off with last year’s winner who heads the weights this time. It sounds like Sous La Neige didn’t get much of a run in a blanket finish at Chantilly last time either, so fingers crossed for more luck this time.
Tony McFadden: It's highly competitive racing on Good Friday but one who stands out with a slightly different profile to most of her rivals is Lady Dora Mae in the All-Weather Vase Fillies' Handicap (13:30) at Lingfield. She raced only once for Fozzy Stack in Ireland last season, finishing in mid-division in a big-field Curragh maiden, but she has created a good impression since joining George Boughey and has won two of her three starts for the yard, including her handicap debut at Kempton last time. She faced only three rivals on that occasion but it still looked like a good race of its type, featuring some promising three-year-olds. Lady Dora Mae kept on well to win by a short head, prompting Timeform's reporter to note that 'a bigger field and stronger pace will see her to better effect and she is open to further improvement'. She tackles that bigger field at Lingfield where she is up against mainly older and more exposed rivals.
The Curragh hosts the first ever race meeting in Ireland on Good Friday. Does anything catch your eye?
AA: Dallas Star looks of interest in the final race on the card (17:27). He was a surprise winner of the Ballysax Stakes as a three-year-old and, though he hasn’t won since, has plenty of solid efforts to his name. He’s only had two starts for this yard and both have come on the all-weather, shaping well over two miles on his return in January and not suited by a significant drop in trip over a mile and a quarter last time. The return to turf and step back up in trip will be in his favour and there’s a strong chance he’ll get an easy lead. He was a good runner-up in the Irish St Leger Trial over this course and distance last season and, with a couple of runs under his belt, could be hard to catch.
JI: The one who catches my eye on pedigree is Canary Island, a Dubawi half-brother to Derby winner Auguste Rodin making his debut for Aidan O’Brien in the maiden over nine furlongs (16:52), though Ryan Moore evidently prefers stablemate Pendulum so maybe he’s one for another day. Otherwise, Eastwatch is interesting going back up in trip in the Emerald Cup (16:17). That was a big run on his handicap debut to finish clear of the rest when second in the Irish Lincolnshire on testing ground here last month and he meets the winner Ribee on better terms here.
TM: The opening two-year-old maiden (13:22) won't be an interesting betting heat for many given only one of the nine competitors has raced before. But it's a contest notable for containing Aidan O'Brien's first two-year-old runners of the season. O'Brien is represented by New Yorker, the mount of Ryan Moore, and Confucius, who is partnered by Wayne Lordan. Both colts are by No Nay Never and are out of Cheveley Park winners, with New Yorker being a son of Fairyland and Confucius out of Millisle. One of O'Brien's first juvenile runners last season was Mission Central, who was only fifth on debut at Dundalk but went on to win the Group 3 Round Tower Stakes and the valuable conditions stakes on Champions Day.
There are competitive cards at Musselburgh and Haydock on Saturday. Can you please give us a horse to note?
AA: I’m hoping Vincenzo Peruggia can build on the promise of his Beverley win in the first race at Musselburgh (13:25). That may not have been the strongest race, but he won doing handstands, impressing with how well he stretched clear in the final furlong. Things didn’t go to plan in the Vintage Stakes at Glorious Goodwood afterwards, but he shaped much better than the bare result, travelling well for a long way and given an easy time of it after the eventual winner bumped him around two furlongs out. He’s a nice type physically, a lengthy colt with scope who should come into his own this season. An opening mark of 91 may not be a gift, but he’s a horse we are yet to see the best of and this race isn’t quite as strong as it could have been after the declaration stage. A mile will suit him well, Charlie Johnston has his string in good order and this small-field scenario should be in his favour around a sharp track if ridden positively once more.
JI: The Final of the Middle Series for veterans at Haydock (15:20) looks super competitive but Triple Trade should go well at decent odds. He won at Cheltenham and a qualifier for this race at Sandown earlier this season and then ran well to dead-heat for third behind relative youngsters Donnacha and Grand National hope Jagwar in a premier handicap at Cheltenham on Trials Day. Triple Trade’s last run when fourth in the Greatwood Gold Cup at Newbury needs overlooking, but the placed horses have advertised that form since and he’s back against fellow veterans now.
TM: Brookside La was a non-runner when well fancied at Kelso a couple of weeks ago and again looks of interest in the three-mile novice handicap hurdle (16:30) at Haydock. Brookside La made a successful handicap debut at Wetherby on Boxing Day and then showed even better form in defeat when third in a big-field handicap over 21 furlongs at Haydock in January, sticking to his task in the style of one who would benefit from a step up in trip. He hasn't been seen out since that creditable effort but the form has been boosted by the winner Judicial Deference winning at Kelso last month and the Haydock runner-up, Below The Radar, finishing placed on his next couple of starts, including in a useful and competitive handicap at Uttoxeter.
And who is at the top of your shortlist for the Irish Grand National on Easter Monday?
AA: Flicker of Hope made very good progress on his first three starts over fences this season, looking the right type for this race when winning his second start in this sphere in a novice over an extended three miles at Naas in January. He comfortably beat Kurasso Blue on that occasion, strong at the finish having jumped well throughout, and he possibly found the race coming too soon when pulled up at the same course just 16 days later. Flicker of Hope has been freshened up since and an opening mark of 144 could prove a lenient one now making his handicap debut over fences, with this marathon trip likely to bring about further improvement.
JI: It would be a great story if Uhavemeinstitches were to win this as her dam Bluesea Cracker ploughed through heavy ground to win the race in 2010 for the same stable, that of James Motherway, and her daughter, who’s an improving novice, could well be a chip off the same block. It could be significant, though, that Emmet Mullins is pitching Soldier In Milan into this on his handicap debut. He started off in a bumper at last year’s Punchestown Festival beating the future Turners winner King Rasko Grey and has gone straight over fences since. You can see why on pedigree as his dam is a half-sister to Oscar Time who was not only runner-up to Bluesea Cracker in this race but also second in the following season’s Grand National at Aintree.
TM: Better Times Ahead looks to have the right sort of credentials. He was successful in the Porterstown Handicap Chase over the same course and distance in November, proving his stamina for this marathon test, and he then posted an even better effort when only narrowly denied in the valuable Thyestes Handicap Chase at Gowran Park, finishing well clear of the third in a race that was a thorough slog. He was down the field over hurdles at Naas last month, but it's easy to overlook that effort given the marked drop in trip and he's likely to prove a different proposition faced with this stamina test. He can add to his fine record in handicap chases this season.
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