RACING:JONJO O'NEILL has raised the possibility of Synchronised running in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown rather than defending his Welsh National title at Chepstow over Christmas.
The eight-year-old ran a fine race last time out over the fixed brush hurdles at Haydock when third behind the impressive Dynaste.
The JP McManus-owned gelding would be near the head of the weights at Chepstow and as there is not much size about him, O’Neill could be tempted to run him in a Grade One instead. “He’s a great little horse. He’s not that big but he’s as genuine as they come,” he said.
“He’s done very well. He’s won a Midlands National and a Welsh National with a big weight. He ran a blinder the other day over hurdles at Haydock. He may go back to Chepstow but he’s also entered in the Lexus so we could go either way.
“He’s probably not fast enough for that (the Lexus), but when it comes to really heavy ground he’d be as fast as they come. His biggest problem now is that he’s not a big horse and he’ll have to carry big weights.
“He’s in great form and I’m very happy with him. He’s very honest and he’s a great horse to have. He goes the same pace if it’s fast or heavy ground, but the others slow down in heavy ground.”
Mark Bradstock’s Hennessy hero Carruthers has been given 11st 3lb in the Welsh National on December 27th.
Paul Nicholls’ Neptune Collonges, who was pulled up in the Newbury feature, heads the weights on 11st 12lb.
Synchronised carried 11st 6lb to victory last season and has the same weight this time and O’Neill’s charge is one of four past winners who may seek further glory if he decides to give Leopardstown a miss.
The others are Philip Hobbs’ Dream Alliance (9st 13lb), Venetia Williams’ Miko de Beauchene (10st 5lb) and the Barry Potts-trained Notre Pere (10st 12lb).
Of those prominent in the ante-post market Gordon Elliott’s Beautiful Sound has 10st, the O’Neill-trained Galaxy Rock is on 10st 11lb, Giles Cross has 10st 1lb and Colin Tizzard’s Hey Big Spender 11st 7lb.
Evan Williams reports Cappa Bleu (10st 12lb) to be on target for the race following his fine comeback victory at Haydock.
“He came out of the race very well and we’re leaning towards running him in the Welsh National,” the Llancarfan trainer said.
“I can’t quite believe how well he came out of that race at Haydock. He’s very fresh, he’s very well and we are all pretty much in agreement we’ll head to Chepstow after Christmas.”
Paul Carberry will be signing copies of his autobiograhy, One Hell Of A Ride, at Farrell and Nephew Book and Gift Store in Newbridge, Co Kildare today at 5pm.
The book chronicles Carberry’s colourful life in and out of the saddle, and proceeds from this book signing event will go towards the Irish Injured Jockeys’ Fund.
Unraced when with Aidan O’Brien, Barbican was winning his sixth race of 2011 at Kempton yesterday in the Listed Back Or Lay At betdaq.com Wild Flower Stakes and could have races like the Melbourne Cup on his long-range radar next season, as well as being a possible for the Dubai Carnival.
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