The Betway ambassador previews the second day of the Dublin Racing Festival, as Energumene and Lossiemouth headline his five rides.
I start my Sunday rides with Final Demand 2/5 in the Novice Chase (13:10). I guess he didn’t blow anyone away in Limerick, but he still won. I think he underperformed on the day, but I’m not sure he or the race ever got competitive enough to perform either. He jumped fine and got valuable experience. I also have a brilliant memory of him around Navan in his beginner’s chase – he really excited me that day, and I can’t wait to get back up on him. In opposition, Western Fold won’t give it to him easy. There’s only a pound between them in ratings and he has some flashy form when you go back through. He was a length behind Affordale Fury at Down Royal. We also have Kaid d’Authie and Jimmy Du Seuil, who both have good form for sure, but I love Final Demand and I couldn’t get off him for anything in the race.
Then it’s King Rasko Grey 5/2 in the two-mile Novice Hurdle (13:40). He was impressive winning on his hurdles debut in Limerick, with Danny Mullins riding. It’s form that’s really working out well. Shuttle Diplomacy in second, who obviously bolted up in Naas last week, and I Started A Joke (fourth that day), backed up the form at Punchestown as well. Back to my horse, though – I just loved watching Danny on him. He must have been getting a brilliant feel off him to be as confident as he was. He didn’t fly the last, but took off again at the back of it and really, really strongly saw it out through the line. With the benefit of that run under his belt, he’ll have what he needs to step forward. There’s a lot of depth to this race, and there’ll be a lot of winners that come out of it. The fun of the novices is to see what steps forward from maidens into Grade 1 company. Who takes the biggest step forward?
We move on to the Dublin Chase (14:10) and the 12-year-old Energumene 8/1 , twice as old as likely main contender Majborough. It’s a very long time since he’s run on ground like this – the last time heavy was in the official description for one of his runs was January 2021 – and he definitely performs best on it. The heavier the ground, the better, especially at this stage of his life. We’ve chanced having cheekpieces on just to see if they can bring about a bit of spark in him as well, not that he hasn’t been running with enthusiasm.
Solness is sure to set a good gallop again at a place he loves, while Marine Nationale has to be a doubt on the ground, but is probably the best horse in the race at the moment. The aforementioned Majborough was right up their tails at Christmas time with cheekpieces on, as well. He behaved himself better at Christmas and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him pass Marine Nationale and Solness on slower ground. I also think Found A Fifty was campaigned really well at the start of the season. It’s a really competitive race but we’re optimistic people, so we’re going to talk up our own one as best we can, anyway.
Next up it’s Lossiemouth 11/10 in the Irish Champion Hurdle (15:20). It’s a rematch with Brighterdaysahead from the December Hurdle, which we won at the end of last year. I think is going to be a different race to Christmas. I thought I had to do the donkey work to catch up with Anzadam when he went by us down the back straight. Then I was just left in front and felt I was always holding Brighterdaysahead. Lossiemouth doesn’t usually take off and gallop away from horses, certainly when she’s not asked to. I’d be hoping to get the better of her again. We had race fitness going into Christmas and now they’ve got the run on their belt.
Anzadam is still a very good horse, I think, if they can just channel that energy in the right direction. But it looks like it’s between the two mares. I’ve only watched the December Hurdle back again last night and, you know, she closed on me at the back of the last. She galloped right to the line, so could you say she needed the run. I travelled into the straight much better than Jack. He was niggling away at the back of the second last round into the home straight, and she stayed galloping right to the line. That would lead me to believe she was pretty race-ready, so I thought I was a snug winner the last day.
Finally, I ride Murcia 9/1 in the Listed Handicap Hurdle (15:52). It’s a nice, big field with a lot of decent runners in it. I’ve gone for Murcia even though it’s a lot of weight for her to carry, and she’s not a huge filly. She ran okay on testing ground in Naas last year and she was beaten into second before she went to Cheltenham for the Fred Winter. I fancied our chances at Aintree after that, and she won well. She’d come to herself, and it was ideal ground – she’s not going to get that here. She’ll also have stepped forward plenty for her run at Fairyhouse in November. We have nine horses from the stable in this race, and they all have their chances in a race where anything could be lurking with a nice weight.
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