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15:05 Leopardstown
There’s some fantastic racing in Ireland today and it’d be criminal not to cover the showpiece race of the day. The action from Leopardstown looks set to be another prep for some of Willie Mullins’ super stars and its no exception as he saddles three of the five runners here.
Nichols Canyon got the better of Champion Hurdle winner Faugheen when they met earlier in the season but the eight year old will no doubt strip fitter for that run. A return to winning ways last time out for the eight year old showed why it still remains red-hot favourite for its two mile Cheltenham target and I have no doubt that the previous result can be reversed today. The price isn’t likely to be anything fantastic but that’s probably due to the fact it’s highly likely to win.
Although I hate to say it the remainder just look set to be also rans hoping for some prize money.
Faugheen (WIN)
16:05 Leopardstown
An hour after our first selection we head back to Leopardstown to back yet another Willie Mullins trained, odds on favourite. Any Mullins trained runner has to be respected and with his yard in great fettle you’d have to be a brave man to go against any of his runners. As such I’m leaving my bravery else where and I’m sticking with Village Mystic. A horse that’s won its sole point to point start before Gigginstown got involved. Its French breeding should indicate a preference for the heavy going it’s going to be greeted with today and in all honesty the horse looks to have been found quite a weak contest to pick up its first win under rules.
Of the rest of the pack I’d pick out both Jack Dillinger and Candlestick as the most likely two to follow home the favourite but I can only see this being yet another winner for Gigginstown and team Mullins.
Village Mystic (WIN)
16:25 Chelmsford
We end the action with a trip on to the all-weather where, according to the betting, this looks set to be a match race between two previous course and distance winners in the form of Kristal Hart and Goodwood Moonlight. A decent second placed finish last time out shows Kristal Hart looks pretty consistent on its day but you have to go with the man in form and trainer Ian Williams has his yard absolutely flying. Top all-weather jockey Adam Kirby is booked to ride the four year old and Goodwood Moonlight can put its previous performance behind and return to winning ways.
I wouldn’t be so sure the race is as definitive as it just being the two market principles and despite siding with one of them I feel bottom weight Game Mascot could definitely have enough to go close.
Goodwood Moonlight (WIN)