RACING:RUBI LIGHT can enjoy a change of luck in tomorrow's €80,000 John Durkan Chase at Punchestown and confirm Rob Hennessy's Grade One pedigree in the process.
The Co Meath trainer famously saddled his first winner with Sublimity in a Grade One at the end of 2008 and, fortunately for him, the retirement of that star performer coincided with the emergence of another high-class talent in Rubi Light.
A Grade Two winner en route to last season’s Cheltenham Festival, Rubi Light was a revelation in the Ryanair Chase when only giving best in the closing stages behind Albertas Run.
A single start this term looked like providing a perfect return when Rubi Light had champion chaser Sizing Europe cold in another Gowran Grade Two, only to tip up at the final fence. Hennessy elected to miss out on the JNwine at Down Royal last month but tomorrow’s two-and-a-half-mile assignment looks a perfect opportunity for Rubi Light to step up to the highest class.
Included among his half-dozen opponents are the last two Durkan winners, Tranquil Sea and Joncol, as well as the Willie Mullins duo, Cooldine and Kempes, and Roi Du Mee, who will be ridden by Nina Carberry.
Hennessy reported yesterday: “We’ve given him time to come right and his last couple of bits of work have been absolutely brilliant. He had a little spin this morning and schooled over four fences and everything went great. Everything will suit him on Sunday – the track, the trip and the ground.”
Despite not boasting a Grade One to his name yet, Rubi Light is rated superior to both Joncol and Tranquil Sea. Barry Geraghty had the pick of those and elected to ride Edward O’Grady’s charge, but a combination of this ground and the two-and-a-half-mile trip looks ideal for Rubi Light, who can continue jockey Andrew Lynch’s recent run of top-flight success.
Noel Meade elected to keep Dylan Ross for tomorrow’s Listed novice hurdle rather than last weekend’s Royal Bond and the decision can pay off for the former champion trainer. Laganbank and Ballysteen are smart novices too, but Meade has a high opinion of his Navan runner-up.
Meade can also score in the opening maiden hurdle aboard the point-to-point winner Please Talk, while Robbie McNamara’s booking for True Icon in the bumper looks significant for a horse that made a promising course debut behind Make Your Mark.
Cork hosts three other Graded events tomorrow, including the Grade Two Hilly Way Chase, where Golden Silver attempts a hat-trick in the two-mile event.
Willie Mullins’s top-class performer won the Hilly Way at the Mallow track in 2009 and when it was switched to Fairyhouse last year. He hasn’t run yet this season but should be sharp enough and has over a stone in hand on his rivals on official ratings.
Shop Dj’s luck was out at Clonmel on her last start when crashing out at the last but on her best form she could dominate the Grade Three mares chase, while the course winner Daring Article could stay best of all in the Grade Three novice.
Quarterpastsix made a promising course debut last month behind Hats And Heels and looks one to check out in the Cork bumper.
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/YVIRIOZQ35EWRPZXR27KGMO6YU.png)