Equinties - Supreme shake-up

Gm Equinauts

The Dublin Racing Festival was worth the hype over the weekend, and as we always do on a Monday post-any big meeting, we’ll dissect it and serve up the key takeaways.

Firstly, let’s be clear, not every horse over in Ireland this weekend is noteworthy, perhaps even quite the opposite. We learned nothing from the Irish Champion Hurdle (sadly), the Juvenile wasn’t worth much at all, neither was the Dublin Chase, and we really don’t think we saw the Champion Bumper winner this weekend.

So what did we learn?

Well, as if some needed it reinforcing (absurd) GALOPIN DES CHAMPS was the man on the match, player of the tourney: he is simply a horse for the ages.

He absolutely blew the roof off Leopardstown, so much so, in an interview with Nick Luck, Paul Townend said he heard the crowd from down the straight – something that’s never ever happened before.

Bravo, GALOP DES CHAMPs and bravo, race goers!

Let’s dive in.

HEADINE ROUND UP

GREEN LIGHT FOR THE BROWN

Let’s talk about BALLYBURN.

He won, and that is a big thing in terms of restoring the people’s faith in him for Cheltenham because let’s be honest, his reputation took a hit after Kempton at the expense of SIR GINO. What was notable on Sunday was his engine on display and it reminded us of what he did at this meeting 12 months ago.

He needs to brush up on his jumping though.

Ultimately, he was outjumped for most of the contest, and it’s not like he was under too much pressure. He sat in second with CHAMP KIELY setting a pretty standard pace, and CROKE PARK (an out-and-out stayer) sat off him in third.

IMPAIRE ET PASSE sat properly off the pace and his jumping didn’t really hold up yesterday, which was a shame because he had enough in the tank to make a bit of an eye-catching move ahead of the last fence.

BALLYBURN just didn’t jump with too much speed. Time and time again we see horses lose lengths at their fences which makes them lose positions, lengths, and races. BALLYBURN was fine because he has the engine, but can he get away with it on the Cheltenham old course over three miles?

20 fences on an undulating track and two on the home straight. That’s the test of the Browns, and that first fence as they turn for home does creep up quickly on horses.
It’s not like he’s in a position to get away with it at Cheltenham either. His stablemate, DANCING CITY, will probably make all and he’s a sound jumper. CROKE PARK will appreciate the return to three miles, BETTER DAYS AHEAD will be there, and even JANGO BAIE could put on a jumping display if he gets the go-ahead to come here.

So, if you came away from the DRF thinking the Brown Advisory was sewn up in a nice bow for BALLYBURN, hold fire, the final part of the story is still yet to play.

MULLINS’ NOVICE PLANS

Was it ever in doubt? And by ‘it’, we mean the strength of Willie Mullins’ team at the Cheltenham Festival.

A month ago, plenty thought that Closutton’s team for March was a bit weak, but the Willie Mullins Racing Festival has concluded and his squad looks pretty decent in the novice hurdle ranks.

So, what could the novice hurdles look like for WP Mullins?

Well, let’s start with the most visually impressive novice performance of the weekend, KOPEK DES BORDES. He was sketchy (understatement) on his hurdles debut, but the race got a form boost when KAWABOOMGA, the second, beat WILLIAM MUNNY at Fairyhouse.

To do what he did to KAWABOOMGA despite jumping like a fridge was impressive, and all that was worrying punters ahead of his run yesterday was that previously mentioned jumping.

Well, his jumping held up and as such, he won the Grade 1 Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle by 13 lengths, with there being a further nine lengths back to the third, GOOD AND CLEVER.

It was hard not to be impressed. Paul Townend barely moved a muscle, the rest of the field are no slouches, and the market move pre-race spoke volumes.

Immediately after, having thought that Mullins’ number one horse for the Supreme was SALVATOR MUNDI, everyone, including the bookies, changed that opinion quickly.

7/1 into 6/4 was the price movement for him, and this is the race he’ll be heading to.

So, Mullins has SALVATOR MUNDI and KOPEK DES BORDES for the Supreme. Sorted, right?

Well the only trouble maker in the current line up looks to be ROMEO COOLIO who should go straight to Cheltenham. He put a lot more distance between himself and Mullins’ KARNIQUET who was following KOPEK DES BORDES home. That form certainly means he shouldn’t be forgotten about.

Next up, the Turners. FINAL DEMAND looked good when winning the Nathaniel Lacy on Saturday. Maybe the form isn’t as good as the form of the race KOPEK DES BORDES won, but WINGMEN has form with THE YELLOW CLAY and MOZZIES SISTER has THE BIG WESTERNER form.

With KOPEK DES BORDES heading to the Supreme, this surely leaves FINAL DEMAND for the Turners. He is a classy horse who doesn’t lack gears, and he doesn’t really have a replacement with the same sort of profile.

Yes, that does mean Mullins might not have one for the Albert Bartlett, but we all know he would rather win the Turners than the spud race. He’d be happy to let SOUNDS VICTORIUS go off a big price for it and maybe place.

Although the likes of GAELIC WARRIOR took a hit to their reputation for Cheltenham, FINAL DEMAND and KOPEK DES BORDES have increased theirs, and Mullins’ road to sweeping up in March looks well and truly on.

MONBEG PARK - SUNDAY LEOPARDSTOWN 14.45

Gavin Cromwell had the well-backed favourite in the 2m5f handicap chase, and the race tends to produce nice horses. Plenty of novices go to the contest and are well found in the market. Last year, for example, produced HEART WOOD and INOTHEWAYURTHINKIN. This year, the eye-catcher was MONBEG PARK who ran a belter. He travelled well, jumped well, and stayed on through the line. In a slightly easier contest, he’ll be winning soon, especially in a race with less ‘plot jobs’ like BACKTONORMAL.

BAMBINO FEVER - SUNDAY LEOPARDSTOWN 16.25

We don’t usually highlight winners as eye-catchers, but BAMBINO FEVER could be very interesting going forward. Yes, Willie Mullins had the favourite who underperformed, but BAMBINO FEVER won easily and the form of the race already looks good. The second, SWITCH FROM DIESEL, was second in the race last year and she also has form with REDEMPTION DAY and JALON D’OUDAIRIES. She showed a really good turn of foot considering the second travelled well into the race.

RISK ON

Only one horse of interest today and you won’t like it if hate shorties…

14.45 HEART OVER HEAD

Still a few bookmakers offering up evens (Coral and Ladbrokes), we think he’s a class above in this field and should be the winner here despite the long lay off. Yard are bang in form.

SUBSCRIBE BELOW TO ACCESS OUR PREMIUM CONTENT

Become a paying subscriber of Premium to get access to this post and other subscriber-only content.

Already a paying subscriber? Sign In.

A subscription gets you:

• • The weekender edition (Mon-Fri still free)
• • The weekends best bets
• • That warm fuzzy feeling inside knowing the intern gets fed
• • Only £1 a week!