KERRY NATIONAL AT LISTOWEL:DEUTSCHLAND HAS never run over three miles and hasn't won a race in over a year, but the addition of Ruby Walsh and a set of cheek-pieces could be the key to success in today's €160,000 Guinness Kerry National at Listowel.
There are any number of fascinating threads in the weave of Listowel’s centrepiece, such as how Finger Onthe Pulse will attempt to become the first horse for 15 years to complete the Galway Plate-Kerry National double, or how former winners Ponmeoath (2007-08) and Northern Alliance (2009) are back for more.
There is even the prospect of the bookmakers running scared from the fast-improving Alfa Beat, who has won his last four starts, while the high-class Mossbank is set to have his first start in over two years off topweight.
But even the presence of a Grand National winner (Monty’s Pass) on the recent Kerry National roll-of-honour can’t disguise how the race’s most dominant figure in the last decade has been Ruby Walsh.
The champion jockey has won four of the last six runnings, including on Northern Alliance last season. This time he is on board Deutschland for the first time in six months, and it could be worth betting that some rather uninspiring recent form-figures don’t reflect the chance of Willie Mullins’ stalwart runner.
A winner on the flat, on the all-weather, over hurdles and over fences, Deutschland is having his 40th start, and will have to travel farther than he has since his first chase in late 2008 when runner-up on his fencing debut at Downpatrick.
But the Listowel track doesn’t put a premium on stamina, and it’s not hard to see Walsh relishing the challenge of smuggling the horse around.
It should also pay to ignore Deutschland’s run in July’s Galway Plate, when he was hampered badly at the first and never figured afterwards.
There was, however, encouragement to be taken from his subsequent start on the flat at Killarney when fifth to Top Spin under topweight, and Mossbank’s presence gives a decent racing weight to a horse good enough to be Grade One-placed as a novice.
Ground conditions should also aid his chance of lasting the three miles, and first-time cheek-pieces could also be significant.
If rain stays away it will also help Alfa Beat’s chance. The Charles Byrnes-trained horse has been a revelation this summer, rising 45lb in the ratings, and his trainer said yesterday: “We’re hopeful as long as there isn’t too much rain.”
Tony Martin is hoping for the same for Northern Alliance, while Mark Walsh, denied the opportunity to ride Finger Onthe Pulse at Galway due to Tony McCoy’s late availability, will be hoping for some big-race compensation.
But in a hugely-competitive race the combination of a value each-way price and Walsh makes Deutschland an attractive option.
The Real Article will attempt to live up to his name on his jumping debut in today’s maiden hurdle, a race that often throws up a promising horse, such as last year’s winner, Loosen My Load.
Edward O’Grady’s five-year-old has looked hugely impressive in three bumpers and the ground should be ideal.
The mile-and-a-half conditions race features a number of horses who have flattered, none more so than Gan Amhras, who few, if any, could have believed would be running here just over a year after finishing third to Sea The Stars in the Guineas.
In the circumstances it may pay to side with Clearwater Bay, a full-brother to Alexandrova and Masterofthehorse, who won at Galway despite running green.
Aidan O’Brien has struck with a number of late-maturing three-year-olds this autumn – Flying Cross and Await The Dawn are two – and this may be another.
