IRISH RACING WEEKEND PREVIEWS:JP McMANUS has bought tomorrow's Powers Gold Cup hopeful Kempes, but, in the context of Fairyhouse's Easter Sunday Grade One feature, the leading owner might have invested in the wrong one of Willie Mullins's two runners.
Mullins also tackles the €100,000 highlight with Shakervilz, and, as testing ground will put a premium on stamina, circumstances look like playing into the hands of Ruby Walsh’s mount.
As a hurdles winner over three miles here in 2008, and a World Hurdle contender at Cheltenham last season, one of the surprising aspects to Shakervilz’s two wins over fences this term has been the speed he has shown over two miles. They were enough to have put him just 5lb off the topweight in the long handicap for Monday’s Irish National, and considering his proven stamina over hurdles he would have had his supporters in that marathon slog.
Mullins, though, is pitching him in at the top level against nine opponents, that include Kempes, who will be ridden by Tony McCoy on his first start for his new owner.
“Kempes is in good shape although he would prefer better ground,” Mullins said. “This is the first time Shakervilz has run over fences at the distance, but based on his hurdling form it should suit. He has proved a very smart jumper and he has every chance.”
The going will also put the jumping of these novices to the test, and that puts a question mark over odds-on favourite Zaarito, whose undoubted ability has been compromised by three falls out of six starts this season.
Given a clear round, Colm Murphy’s diminutive star has a major shout, but that’s a pretty big if for a warm favourite.
No such concerns surround Roberto Goldback, who started favourite in a Grade One last February which saw him finish third to the ill-fated Citizen Vic and the RSA winner, Weapons Amnesty.
That’s high-class form which trumps anything the likes of Let Yourself Go and Deal Done have produced. But overall, the improvement likely to come from Shakervilz over this trip, and on these conditions, could prove crucial.
Seven line up for tomorrow’s main support event, the Grade Two Rathbarry and Glenview Studs Novice Hurdle, and the foresight shown by the Luska Lad team in avoiding Cheltenham can pay off.
The former prolific bumper winner would have been a player in any of the novice races at Cheltenham on his best form, but that has usually come on right-handed tracks.
Luska Lad looked to emphasise that when out-pointing senior opposition in Jumbo Rio and Noble Prince at Gowran in February, and going the “right” way over two miles here should make it a hard task for Blackstairmountain and Loosen My Load to beat him.
The final of the novice handicap hurdle series is likely to be as competitive as it will be tough over this three miles, but one horse that should thrive in the conditions is the Listed winner Quito De La Roque.
Colm Murphy’s charge has ground to make up on the topweight Hellyhunter on Navan form from last month, but these conditions will play more to Quito De La Roque’s strengths.
Endless Intrigue, absent for two years, is a fascinating contender for the bumper, but of even more interest should be Forty Foot Tom, whose 24-length winning debut at Navan last December was full of promise.
Tomorrow’s mixed card at Cork includes the Listed Imperial Call Chase, which looks to give Aran Concerto a great chance on the book. Last season’s Grade One winner has been far from his best this season but will hardly get a better opportunity to score again than this.
Art Broker’s form tailed off last season after breaking his maiden at the Curragh, but it could be significant that Dermot Weld is persevering with him into his four-year-old career.
