DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
SUNDAY FEBRUARY 1
12.40 LEOPARDSTOWN
Had day one of the Dublin Racing Festival gone ahead as planned, we would know by now the strength of the juvenile race won by Narcisco Has at the Christmas meeting, but either way, a chance is taken on ADRIENNE, the runner-up in that Grade 2, proving good enough to make an impact on handicap debut.
Although no match for Willie Mullins’ impressive winner over the two-mile trip, Ted Walsh’s filly did, however, stay on best of those held up way off the pace and with the data pointing towards her performance being another step in the right direction (easily the fastest of the three two-mile races run on the card), an opening mark of 122 might underestimate her true worth.
Moreover, she shaped as though racing over further might prove more beneficial to her in the fulness of time and having already proven herself on heavy ground with a victory at Fairyhouse earlier in the campaign, the combination of today’s conditions and a return to the Dublin venue will hopefully bear fruit.
Of the rest, Shoda comes across as another who could have potentially escaped the grips of the assessor with an opening mark of 116 based on the opposition she has faced up to date, and it would come as no surprise if she were to go well.
Here third to the smart Ballyfad over today’s course at Christmas reads well and she might have caused Radiator Springs more trouble had she not gone all the way around the inner on the swamp at Clonmel and make a bad mistake at the last at Clonmel a month ago.
ADRIENNE – ½ point each-way@12-1 (five places)
SHODA – ½ point each-way@13-2 (five places)
2.45 LEOPARDSTOWN
KINTURK KALANISI is the kind of horse that constantly winks at you in these sorts of events and following a career high effort in the Paddy Power Chase over today’s course last time out, it is a case of in for a penny, in for a pound, on Thomas Gibney’s gelding.
Having deserted the eight-year-old for once in the big three-mile handicap at the last meeting, a sense of dread came over this writer as he cruised to the front rounding the home turn but as events panned out, he succumbed to a couple of stronger finishers owned by the Giggingstown operation on the run-in, and he eventually had to settle for a minor role.
Apart from a complete blow out in the Irish Grand National, when he could never get into a rhythm from the start, the son of Kalanisi has been a reliable conveyance in every race he has contested and with some of his best form in the past coming over distances short of three miles, today’s drop back in trip should hopefully suit.
Of the rest, IL ATLANTIQUE has never run in a handicap before, but he brings a proper class edge to proceedings and can not be left out of calculations based on some of his best form.
Although he couldn’t lay a glove on impressive winner, Heart Wood, in a Grade 2 at Tramore last time out, he did manage to pull clear of the rest and the time figure of the race suggested he was operating at a fair level.
A Grade 2 winner over fences last season, he remains unexposed in this discipline and loves soft ground, so it be foolish not to have at least a round of drinks on him at a big price.
KINTURK KALANISI – ½ point each-way@7-1 (six places)
IL ATLANTIQUE – ½ point each-way@6-1 (six places)
4.27 LEOPARDSTOWN
Probably not the deepest of mares’ bumpers for the grade and it is a contest well within the compass of ROYAL HILLSBOROUGH based on her latest exploits over today’s C&D.
Up against the boys in a keenly contested bumper at the last meeting, Stuart Crawford’s mare chased a strong pace from the outset, and it was noticeable she was the last off the bridle until the exertions of her early exploits took over in the final furlong or so.
Keeping on well for fourth, the speed figure she produced despite her seventh length defeat was extremely good and providing she can be ridden with a smidge more restraint on this occasion, the six-year-old can easily outrun her odds.
ROYAL HILLSBOROUGH – ½ point each-way@9-1