RACING:WHEN THE legendary Vincent O'Brien bred Leblon he might not have had the €50,000 Day Three Listowel festival feature in mind, but that's what the filly could pull off this afternoon.
The regally related daughter of Dansili is one of 15 lining up for the Supporters Club Lartigue Hurdle, but Leblon is the only one boasting winning form over the course and distance.
That came last June on very fast ground, but on the evidence of her maiden hurdle success on heavy going at Clonmel last winter Leblon is admirably versatile.
She is certainly a more potent weapon over jumps than she was on the flat for David Wachman, and as well as a pair of hurdle victories she also has smart placed form behind Tarla, Carlito Brigante and Alaivan.
That company represents some of the best of Ireland’s juvenile crop of last season and Leblon should be a major player against the Willie Mullins pair, Doctor Deejay and Strain Of Fame, who will attempt to secure a third Lartigue victory in a row for the champion trainer.
Noel Meade is also doubly represented, while Jessica Harrington’s topweight Gimli’s Rock will also have his supporters.
But Leblon could be a value option for the John O’Shea-Seán McDermott team.
John Oxx introduced the Irish Derby and King George winner Alamshar to racing at this meeting, so there will be even more interest than normal in the appearance of the Sheikh Mohammed-owned colt His Excellency in the mile juvenile maiden.
The King’s Best horse didn’t show much on his debut, however, and Aidan O’Brien’s trio of runners look strong, with Eagle Canyon possibly set to make it third time lucky after placed efforts behind Fred Archer and A Word Apart.
Joseph O’Brien was an all-the-way winner on Kammaan at the Curragh on Sunday, where trainer David Nagle secured the first winner of his career. The filly is due to make a quick reappearance today under a 5lb penalty in the six-furlong handicap and, crucially, has a good draw in four.
The early pace that served her so well at the weekend could be a factor against the consistent Seán Og Coulston who drops back almost three furlongs from his last effort behind Priomhbhean.
Big Robert looked a less than straightforward operator on the flat, but on a good day, like when he won the Irish Lincoln last March, he is a talented horse.
He is an interesting recruit to jumping in the two-mile maiden hurdle. Jumping could either turn him on or turn him off and it will be interesting to see which it is today.
