Jane Mangan’s William Hill blog: Man will State his case in the Morgiana

William Hill ambassador Jane Mangan previews the weekend’s racing, featuring Grade 1 action from Punchestown and Haydock

Punchestown, Saturday

We’ve got an early start at Punchestown, with the three-year-old maiden hurdle jumping off at 11:30am. It’s a big field to dive into with 22 runners going to post, and I think Slurricane sets the standard here for Ross O’Sullivan and Tom Harney. He’s rated 78 on the Flat and this will be his third start over hurdles, he’s being brought along nicely. His most recent piece of form, where he finished second behind Prairie Angel at Down Royal, is standout in the context of this race. He’s a solid horse with an experience edge and I think he is going to be very hard to beat in the opener.

It’s a pair of maiden hurdles to open the card, with the second race at Punchestown open to four-year-olds (12:00pm) and I like the Gordon Elliott-trained Sermandzarak. I’m a big fan of his page, by Zarak out of Galileo mare, and I was very impressed with him last year. He was two from two in bumpers, looking impressive in the Goffs Sales bumper at the Punchestown festival. I think this is a very exciting prospect now and for the future.

The 2m5f handicap chase (1:30pm) is an intriguing contest where I like Pat Flynn’s Walnut Beach. He finished a promising third behind Watch The Weather last time out at Wexford, with the reopposing Mr Saxobeat splitting the two. I think there was reason to be enthused with him that day and there’s no doubt he will come forward for that run. He could be a tough nut to crack with his favourable handicap mark of 131 here.

The first Grade One at Punchestown of the jumps season comes in the form of the Morgiana Hurdle (2:10pm), and what a strong field we have in this year’s renewal. The winner of the last two runnings of the race, State Man, rightfully heads the market. The 10-time Grade One-winning hurdler hasn’t had to come out of second gear in previous years here, but he faces tougher competition this time around in the form of star mares Lossiemouth and Brighterdaysahead, who he has to give weight away to – it looks a great race on paper. However, there is no doubt that State Man sets the standard in the contest. He’s the reigning Champion Hurdle winner and aged just seven, there’s no reason to believe he won’t have improved again, I fancy him to make it 11 Grade One victories in the Morgiana Hurdle.

Haydock, Saturday 

Beginning Betfair Chase day at Haydock, I like Tahmuras for Paul Nicholls in the 2m5f graduation chase (1:50pm). He’s a Grade One-winning novice hurdler, who we haven’t seen since February when he was marginally beaten in the Grade Two Pendil Novices’ Chase by Blow Your Wad. I think he is capable of better than what we have seen, and he has the all-important experience edge over the market leader Iroko. Paul Nicholls’ string is in great form as of late, and I think he can put it up to the favourite in the race.

The feature of the day on this side of the channel is the Betfair Chase (3:05pm) and I believe Hewick is completely underappreciated and overpriced here. To do what he did over three miles at Down Royal, he virtually stole the race from the front from a set of Grade One performers and was unlucky to not see it out that day. He’s had two runs this year already so he should be cherry-ripe for this weekend, and the Shark [Hanlon, trainer] will have him raring to go for Haydock mentally and physically, he is overpriced against this field. I respect the favourite Grey Dawning; he was a very good novice but he’s short at the top of the market. He has a long way to go before he can be considered a proper open company Grade One chaser, so I’ll side with Hewick in the big one.

Punchestown, Sunday

The first race I’m previewing on Punchestown’s Sunday card is the Grabel Mares Hurdle (12:40pm). Willie Mullins will want to win this and I think he’ll do just that with Lot Of Joy. She was very good at Gowran Park last month and she will come for that run. The horse she beat that day, Royal Hollow, has subsequently run well in graded company and she looks the most likely winner.

The Pertemps Qualifier handicap hurdle (1:15pm) has attracted an interesting field. 15 runners go to post, and I like Desertmore House, who’s rated 16lbs superior over fences to his hurdling mark and I think he can take advantage of that reduced figure here. He’s a former Kerry National winner that stays really well and the booking of Jack Kennedy is an eyecatcher. The rain forecast will suit the selection here and he’s the one for me in this trappy field.

Next up, we have the Craddockstown Novice Chase (1:50pm), where I really like Farren Glory. He is a Grade One-winning novice hurdle who admittedly has his quirks, but I think he is a horse with a lot of ability, despite jumping out to his right at Naas when he made all. He will be a different proposition on a right-handed track which he gets here. It’s worth noting he won his Grade One hurdle race at Fairyhouse, a right-handed track. I think he will be better off this time around and I fancy him here.

 I thoroughly believe that you would have to go a long way to see a better race than Sunday’s John Durkan (2:25pm) before Christmas. This is a King George-esque race and it’s brilliant to see several of last year’s high class novices clash with the two top staying chasers in Fastorslow and Galopin Des Champs – it’s going to be a splendid race. My father’s horse Spillane’s Tower will likely need the run. We wanted him to start before now, but the weather has curtailed those plans. Fastorslow is the most likely winner in my eyes, particularly when considering his record at Punchestown. He and Galopin Des Champs have met six times, and they have an equal record of three wins each but it’s Martin Brassil’s eight-year-old who has the superior record at the track. Grangeclare West interests me in the race, however. His demolition of Corbetts Cross at Leopardstown last Christmas and the way he beat Heart Wood before that in Naas was taking. He’s overpriced here and has a live each way chance. He’ll be up there on the pace, and I think he has a great chance of hitting the frame.