Wednesday Talking Points: Matt Brocklebank looks ahead to a fascinating day's racing
Matt Brocklebank looks ahead to a fascinating card at Punchestown, while the Fast-Track qualifier at Newcastle also comes under the spotlight.
Final prep for Laurina
Willie Mullins will dominate the Smart Money’s On Coral Quevega Mares Hurdle again, having won four of the five runnings so far. Upsie struck in 2014 and Annie Power (2016), Limini (2017) and Meri Devie (2018) have since added their names to the roll of honour. The Irish champion trainer is responsible for three of the seven declared for this year’s edition but in truth the whole race revolves around Laurina, who must concede 4lb and up all round. We didn’t learn a great deal on her belated seasonal return at Sandown last month but she jumped and galloped with the same sort of prowess she displayed in her unbeaten, four-race novice campaign last season. The elephant in the room is the fact that Mullins claims she’s bang on course for the Champion Hurdle, and yet her two runs this year will have come over 2m4f – the trip of the OLBG Mares’ Hurdle at Cheltenham. The forecast good ground on Wednesday will be the quickest she’s ever encountered on a racecourse, too, but all being well this test against capable stablemates Good Thyne Tara and Stormy Ireland will shed a little more light on Laurina’s Festival credentials this time around, whatever spring target it may be.
Reynolds pair out to qualify
The last chance for the Irish to secure a place in the Final at the Cheltenham Festival arrives at Punchestown with the Pertemps Network Group Handicap Hurdle (3.15) and it’s a race worth monitoring closely. Last year was the first time it carried ‘qualifier’ status and the third home, Delta Work, obviously went on to claim victory in the big one at Cheltenham. His trainer Gordon Elliott has three runners this season, namely A Toi Phil, Moratorium and Its All Guesswork. The latter – sporting the Philip Reynolds silks carried to victory by Mall Dini and Presenting Percy in the 2016 and 2017 Pertemps Finals – is a fascinating contender on his belated first start in a handicap following five hurdle runs and five outings over fences in his lightly-raced career to date. The other major eyecatcher on paper is fellow Reynolds runner Tin Soldier, wearing a tongue-tie for the first time and running for trainer Pat Kelly for the first time. Kelly, trainer of Presenting Percy and Mall Dini, has acquired the eight-year-old from Willie Mullins and the horse’s most recent spin over hurdles came when third to Champagne Classic in a Grade One novice event at the 2017 Punchestown Festival. Clearly, this is an unmissable race with Cheltenham in mind.
Johnston improver makes Deep appeal
Not many major Festival clues on offer over the sticks in Britain but a good looking AW Championships Fast-Track Qualifier on the Tapeta at Newcastle (3.45) with Barbill just about best in despite having to concede 3lb all round. Mick Channon's charge enjoyed a good end to 2018 with wins at the Curragh and out in France when landing a Listed race over five and a half furlongs. He's not proven on artificial surfaces though and could be vulnerable to Deep Intrigue, who has looked a natural on two of his three outings since returning from a layoff in December. The blip at Kempton in between wins at Chelmsford and Lingfield is easily forgiven as he got embroiled in a ridiculous pace battle up front and he was far more professional last time out when winning well from a mark of 90. Keep an eye out too for Archie Watson's Quiet Endeavour who resumes from a winter break following a gelding operation. Watson was already aiming towards the AW Championships when this horse won at Chester in August and given the trainer's expert handling of Corinthia Knight in this sphere, it will be interesting to see how this one fares in the betting on his first run for 74 days.
GET THE FULL PICTURE: Don't miss out on FREE video replays and our fantastic My Stable tracker. Log in now and become a Sporting Life Insider.
Related horse racing links
Next Off
Most Followed
MOST READ RACING
