3 days Ago By Irishexaminer.com
Two exciting young mares are amongst the eight runners declared for the Grade One Unibet Morgiana Hurdle, the feature race on Saturday’s card in Punchestown, but both are likely to struggle to contain Champion Hurdler State Man, who is bidding for a third consecutive win in the race. Willie Mullins’ leading light is a no-frills performer who has won 12 of his 14 completed outings over hurdles, and since joining current connections his only defeat in a completed start came at the hooves of Constitution Hill. His record suggests he can be close to his best on return from a break, and at seven years of age there is no reason to expect a decline has begun.
A thorough professional, he can see off the young pretenders. Brighterdaysahead is held in the highest regard and ought to be respected but the concern is that, at this level, this trip is on the sharp side for her. That in mind, Lossiemouth can give her stablemate, State Man, most to think about.
She has suffered defeat just once in her nine-race career to date, is versatile with regard to ground and trip, and has the potential to go much further as a hurdler. All eyes will be on Ballyburn when he makes his chasing debut in the Conway Piling Beginners’ Chase. The Gallagher Novices’ Hurdle winner was victorious on his only outing in a point-to-point and it will be disappointing if he does not make a seamless transition to this discipline.
Stablemate Gold Dancer is arguably his most interesting rival. The Grade Two Boodles Florida Pearl Novice Chase has attracted a disappointingly small field, and all three declared runners are trained by Gordon Elliott and owned by Gigginstown House Stud. Stellar Story is the only one of the three with no previous chasing experience but was the classiest of them over hurdles and the point-to-point winner can make that count.
Sunday’s feature at Punchestown, the Grade One John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase, includes dual Gold Cup winner and 2022 winner of this race Galopin Des Champs, 2023 winner Fastorslow, and Grade One winners Spillane’s Towner, Grangeclare West, Inothewayurthinkin, and Blue Lord, but they may all struggle to cope with the exciting Fact To File. The latter, trained by Willie Mullins, was beaten on his chasing debut but won his beginners’ chase next time and followed up in a poorly contested Grade One at the Dublin Racing Festival. However, he was deeply impressive when winning the Brown Advisory at the Cheltenham Festival and the step up to open company should pose no problem.
He has always tended to jump to his right and so going right-handed for the first time in his career won’t be an issue. He is arguably the most exciting young staying chaser in training and can get his season off to the perfect start. Farren Glory can give trainer Gordon Elliott a fourth win in five runnings of the Grade Two BetVictor Craddockstown Novice Chase.
Winner of a bumper, a maiden hurdle, and what connections admitted to as not being the strongest Grade One hurdle, he was well beaten on testing ground on his chasing debut but won impressively next time out. There is room for improvement in his jumping, but he remains a smart prospect and can prove too strong for these rivals. Nurburgring wasn’t exactly fluent on his first start over fences but ran well enough to take third place behind Down Memory Lane and King Of Kingsfield.
While that was just last weekend, he was fit from a busy summer and autumn campaign and should have no trouble with the quick turnaround. With improvement expected, he can give Farren Glory most to think about. PUNCHESTOWN (Saturday) Selections 11:30 Naturally Nimble 12:00 Eastern Legend 12:30 Ballyburn 1:00 Stellar Story 1:35 Law Ella 2:10 State Man (nap) 2:50 Ask Anything (nb) 3:25 Ma Jacks Hill Next best 11:30 Its Bilbo 12:00 Sermandzarak 12:30 Gold Dancer 1:00 Search For Glory 1:35 Cadatharla 2:10 Lossiemouth 2:50 Depalma 3:25 Jacob’s Ladder PUNCHESTOWN (Sunday) Selections 11:35 Stumptown 12:05 Argento Boy 12:40 Lot Of Joy 1:15 Desertmore House 1:50 Farren Glory (nb) 2:25 Fact To File (nap) 3:00 Well Dressed 3:32 Kalypso’chance Next best 11:35 Solitary Man 12:05 Son Of Anarchy 12:40 Riviere D’Etel 1:15 Macs Charm 1:50 Nurburgring 2:25 Fastorslow 3:00 Union Station 3:32 Soir De Garde CORK (Sunday) Selections 12:20 Yeshil 12:55 Workahead 1:30 Expelliarmus 2:05 Buck Rogers 2:40 Majestic Force 3:15 Noble Talent 3:47 Dancingontheceiling Next best 12:20 Kirsca De Thaix 12:55 His Nibs 1:30 Ifitwasme 2:05 Paddy’s Milestone 2:40 Goodie Two Shoes 3:15 Falco Blitz 3:47 Oneforgonzo.
