RACING/LEOPARDSTOWN FESTIVAL:THERE HAS been some sparkling Grade One novice action at Leopardstown this week but today's Ballymaloe Country Relish Beginners Chase at the Dublin track could also end up being hugely informative in Cheltenham terms.
Just seven line up but they include the Grade One-winning hurdler Shot From The Hip, a Willie Mullins hope in Celtic Folklore and possibly best of all, the hugely promising Hidden Cyclone.
Trained by “Shark” Hanlon, Hidden Cyclone has been beaten just once in seven racecourse appearances and that was when less than a length off First Lieutenant here over hurdles a year ago. Hanlon thinks the world of the six-year-old and deliberately missed out on Cheltenham 2011, taking a long-term fencing view that he envisages ending up in a Gold Cup attempt at some stage of Hidden Cyclone’s career.
He makes his first start over fences now and with Shot From The Hip doing the same, neither Hanlon or Edward O’Grady can be accused of taking the easy option in terms of a chasing debut.
Shot From The Hip wound up last season with an impressive defeat of Hidden Universe at the Punchestown Festival and should relish drying ground conditions. In contrast Hanlon would like some rain for Hidden Cyclone.
“The chase course is a bit quicker than the hurdle track at Leopardstown and, ideally, our lad would like the ground a bit softer than it is. He’s still a big baby and I wanted to give him plenty of time. Everything has gone well,” he said yesterday.
Celtic Folklore doesn’t have anything like the same sort of profile but has been beaten just once in three starts and remains a horse of some promise, as does Nearest The Pin, while Stonemaster will have experience on his side.
For a €13,000 beginners chase it looks a hot contest but Hidden Cyclone can keep the dreams surrounding him alive.
Last year’s winner Our Girl Salley is back for another crack at the Grade Three mares hurdle and showed a glimpse of returning to form at Fairyhouse on her last start behind Mikael D’Haguenet.
Against her today is Magen’s Star and the Cheltenham Festival heroine What A Charm who landed a Listed event on the flat in September for John Oxx before going back to Arthur Moore.
Good ground conditions though will hardly be in any of their favours, and it might be worth taking a chance with the progressive Madame Mado who has winning form on quick going.
The “Shark” Hanlon team could also be on the mark in the maiden hurdle with Star Neuville who put a disappointing hurdles debut behind him when chasing home Toostrong at Fairyhouse last time.
Figures
A bumper crowd of 15,222 attended Leopardstown yesterday, a massive 5,000 up on last year's corresponding seven-race fixture which was the first day of the weather-interrupted 2010 festival.
They bet over €1.7 million in total with bookmakers handling €1,332,856. That was up from last year's tally of €930,180. The Tote figure dropped to €404,413 from €503,535 but last year's total included €183,000 bet into the pool from France.
