Gavin Cromwell
Gavin Cromwell’s William Hill blog: Dublin Racing Festival preview
William Hill ambassador Gavin Cromwell previews his runners at the Dublin Racing Festival.
Thyestes Day reaction
We had one of our better days of the season so far at Gowran Park last week, with three winners including the Thyestes. Now Is The Hour was great in the big one, and Eoin Staples gave him a brilliant ride, showing what good value he is for his five-pound claim. He will stay further, a stamina test really suits him, so hopefully we can be competitive in another big handicap this season.
The Passing Wife was impressive as well. The handicapper gave him three pounds for that win, but he still has potential to have scope off that mark. The Coral Cup and the Martin Pipe look the obvious options for him. He’ll have an entry in both.
Leopardstown, Saturday
Our first runner at this year’s Dublin Racing Festival is North Shore in the Grade 1 Juvenile Hurdle (13:50). He was beaten far enough by Narciso Has at Leopardstown over Christmas, but that was his first time over hurdles and he should come on for that run.
He was schooling so well at home and I expected him to jump a lot better that day, but there’s nothing to replicate race conditions like a race. Hopefully he’ll be a bit slicker with his jumping and he should stay going well on the softer ground.
The Triumph is still the aim for him at Cheltenham. We’ll find out more this weekend, but I’m hoping he’s a Triumph horse.
I’m hoping we’re going to see the real Inothewayurthinkin in the Irish Gold Cup (15:30). He was very quiet after his run in the Savills over Christmas, where he never showed up at all. It took him a while to freshen up but we’re much happier with him now.
At the moment, we’re really just looking for a run that shows us he’s closer to being back to his best. We want him to be travelling, jumping, getting involved in the race and being competitive. Stamina is his forte and he goes fine on softer ground, so that won’t be a concern.
Next we have two runners in the 2m1f Listed chase (16:05). Addragoole took a fair hike in the weights for winning over course and distance here the last day. That was on better ground as well, which he appreciated. He’ll be fine on this ground, but he moves very well on the quicker surface. We’re happy with his work at home and we’re hopeful.
We also have Ballysax Hank, who is another that prefers better ground. It’s a considerable drop back in trip but the ground should bring stamina into play a bit more. He’s working away well at home and can go well here.
Leopardstown, Sunday
Only By Night could start off our Sunday in the Listed mares’ hurdle (12:40), but we need to confirm our decision with connections as to whether she runs here or in the Dublin Chase.
She is favourite for this race and off a mark 23lbs lower than she’s rated over fences, you’d certainly hope she could be very competitive. It would be a great pot to win, so it’d have to be very tempting to run her here.
Dameauscottlestown is also entered here after her comfortable win on handicap debut. She actually surprised me the last day and I couldn’t believe she ran as well as she did! She got a considerable hike in the ratings, and we’ll have to see whether she’s good enough for that. She’s up in class as well but, who knows, maybe she can surprise us again.
Only By Night could still go in the Grade 1 Dublin Chase (14:10) and the race has cut up a fair bit. She was about outpaced in similar company on the better ground over Christmas, so the softer conditions here would help keep her in the race. If she goes here, she’d have a good place chance.
In the Grade 3 handicap chase (14:45) we run Thecompanysergeant. We were disappointed with him the last day, and this season in general. He was beaten quite a way out and didn’t stay going very well here over Christmas, so he’ll have to bounce back from that. He’s a horse who ran well at Cheltenham last year and we’d like to get him back there.
Hello Neighbour will have his first go in a handicap in the two-mile Listed hurdle (15:52) here. It’s a huge pot and having won a Grade 1 at this meeting last year, we’re hoping he’s the horse in the field with a bit of class. He’s got plenty of weight to carry, but I think he can run well.
Looking ahead to Cheltenham, I’d say the William Hill County Hurdle is probably still the race for him.
We finish off the weekend with Araminta in the Grade 2 bumper (16:27). She ran a big race on debut at Fairyhouse and finished second there, so she’s going into this race as a maiden. That run was on proper soft ground, so the conditions we’re expecting here will be no problem to her. Whether she’s good enough to win this I’m not sure, but I’d fancy her to be placed.
Scottish Triumph Hurdle preview and targets for Flooring Porter
Secret Force will head up to Musselburgh for the Scottish Triumph Hurdle on Saturday. He was a bit disappointing at Cheltenham in November, but this looks a good race for him and I’m hoping he can run well.
I was happy with what I saw from Flooring Porter in the Cotswold Chase last weekend. He jumped okay, even if he was a bit big over the first few, travelled well and just got a bit tired up the hill, which he was entitled to do having been off the track for so long.
I’m happy with where he’s at now, he’s got his options open and I’d say there’s definitely a chance his next run could be in the Stayers’ Hurdle.
