Barry Geraghty
Barry Geraghty’s William Hill blog: Fact To File golden win at Leopardstown
William Hill ambassador Barry Geraghty previews Saturday’s card from the Dublin Racing Festival as well as contests from Sandown and Musselburgh.
Saturday’s Leopardstown card is now subject to a 2:30pm inspection on Friday after 22mm of rain hit the track in the last 24 hours, but here’s hoping the ground staff can work their magic and it goes ahead.
Leopardstown, Saturday
I think DOCTOR STEINBERG is the right favourite in the Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle Grade 1 (1:15pm). He’s a big, chasing type who looks a proper stayer and will love the soft ground conditions. He’s two from two over hurdles, beating a classy rival last time at Navan in Thedeviluno, who has since gone on to win a Grade 2. It is a quality field, with Gordon Elliott’s two Kazansky and Santo Sospir both strong rivals, but I’d be keen to stick with the favourite.
NARCISO HAS might be the one in the Grade 1 Juvenile Hurdle (1:50pm). He put in a big performance in Leopardstown over Christmas to win by 11 lengths, when coming on a lot from his Irish debut where he was second to Mange Tout at Fairyhouse. He should have no issue with conditions and looks really progressive.
The Listed three-mile handicap hurdle (2:25pm) is competitive. COUNTY FINAL is interesting after looking a bit unlucky when just touched off by Kazansky in a Grade 2 at Limerick over Christmas. The handicapper has only put County Final up two pounds for that defeat, and off a mark of 128, he looks like he could be very well treated and on the form of his last run would be hard to beat. For some each-way value, WENDROCK was one that caught the eye last time when finishing fifth behind Champagne Kid at Leopardstown over Christmas. He ran on well from the rear of the field there and could appreciate this step up in trip.
There’s no Kopek Des Bordes in the Grade 1 Irish Arkle (2:55pm) but Willie Mullins could have an able deputy in KARGESE. Romeo Coolio was workmanlike when beating Irish Panther over Christmas. While the slower ground here will place the emphasis on stamina and suit him, with there only being three runners, I think Kargese will get to dictate the pace. She jumped and travelled really well when winning over two miles at Leopardstown over Christmas, and to me she looks more natural at this trip than Romeo Coolio. I think she might be able to upset the favourite here.
Galopin Des Champs must have every chance of making it a historic four wins in a row in the Grade 1 Irish Gold Cup (3:30pm). He ran a good race when second in the Savills over Christmas, where you could see he was getting tired late on. He is going to improve for that run and he sets the standard. It is a very competitive race though and you can make cases for many horses. I’ve been a big FACT TO FILE fan all through his chasing career and I’m not going to give up on him just yet. The King George was the only time he has encountered good ground, and I think conditions were just too quick for him at Kempton last time. He went into that race on the back of a brilliant performance when just touched off in the John Durkan on soft-to-heavy ground and I think now that he’s a bit older this longer trip will bring out the best in him. To me Fact To File represents the biggest danger to Galopin Des Champs and I think there’s value in him at an each-way price.
I thought JACOB’S LADDER was of interest in the Listed Barberstown Castle Handicap Chase (4:05pm). He was second to Irish Panther on his chasing debut back in November and that’s form that has been well advertised since. He arrives here on the back of two good runs, when beating Karoline Banbou at Fairyhouse and then finished a good second in a Grade 3 last time out. Stepping into handicap company for the first time, I thought he could be the one.
The Grade 2 bumper (4:40pm) that rounds off the card looks a quality race. There’s been really good word for Gordon Elliott’s CHARISMATIC KID, who I believe has been keeping good company at home. He was an easy winner of his only start to date at Navan in December, when trained by Colm Ryan, and that form is working out.
Sandown, Saturday
There’s Grade 1 action with the Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase (2:40pm). Kitzbuhel put in a good performance to win the Kauto Star at Kempton last time, when jumping brilliantly, but I thought KALA CONTI was very impressive too when winning at Cork last time. She won by 16 lengths, and while I’m not sure runner-up Kargese produced her best on the day, Break My Soul was over 28 lengths back in fourth, and she would be a good yardstick on soft ground, so that gives the form some substance. Kala Conti looks to jump really well and I think she has stepped up on what she did over hurdles. Kitzbuhel did show his limitations over hurdles, when beaten by Blueking d’Ouroux at Sandown and Hiddenvalley Lake at Aintree, and I think Kala Conti might be able to lower his colours.
Musselburgh, Saturday
Course form counts for a lot at Musselburgh and the Scottish Champion Chase (2:20pm) could hinge on the form of the race run over this course and distance on New Year’s Day where INSURRECTION finished third ahead of Tommy’s Oscar and The Kalooki Kid. If it hadn’t been for a bad mistake at the third last, he would have gone closer to winning, so I think on the basis of that run he looks the one to beat. Paul Nicholls targets this kind of race and he looks to have prepped Insurrection for this.
