Barry Geraghty’s William Hill blog: Fact can File another defeat of Galopin

William Hill ambassador Barry Geraghty looks over two top-class days of racing, with Grade 1s from Newbury, Leopardstown and Limerick.

Newbury, Saturday

It looks a strong field for this year’s Challow Hurdle (2:55pm). The New Lion has been impressive in three starts to date and Bill Joyce won well at Sandown last time, but REGENT’S STROLL could be the one with most potential. He looked very good in bumpers and was a good winner at Newbury on his hurdles debut last time, when overcoming a bad mistake at the second last to win with ease. The horse he beat that day went on to finish third in Grade 1 company at Aintree on Boxing Day, so that gives the form a boost. Regent’s Stroll is obviously highly thought of by the Paul Nicholls team and he’s the one for me here.

Leopardstown, Saturday

The Savills Hurdle (2:00pm) looks a very competitive race and it would be easy to make a case for any of the top five in the betting. Home By The Lee put in a very good performance at Navan and he looked as though he had been rejuvenated compared to how he was early last season. He seemed much fresher, travelled brilliantly and beat Bob Olinger well. He’s going to enjoy the step up in trip, so he’s a solid favourite. However, I think the value could lie with ASTERION FORLONGE, who finished just ahead of Home By The Lee when second to Teahupoo at the Punchestown Festival. On good-to-yielding ground over this trip, I think Asterion Forlonge, if delivered late, could have the speed edge over Home By The Lee.

It’s a quality renewal of the Savills Chase (2:35pm) with lots of depth to it, but it’s hard to see past the two at the top of the market. Galopin Des Champs was brilliant in this race last season when beating Gerri Colombe by 23 lengths, which was arguably his best performance to date, but he faces a different up-and-coming rival now in FACT TO FILE. He was a very impressive novice last season and did win the John Durkan on his return to action, finishing ahead of Galopin Des Champs. I think this horse has massive potential, and on the back of a really good performance at Punchestown he could be the rising star in the division and be able to lower the colours of Galopin Des Champs. I’m in the Fact To File camp in what should be a brilliant spectacle.

Limerick, Saturday

There’s also Grade 1 action from Limerick with the Faugheen Novice Chase (1:40pm). IMPAIRE ET PASSE probably didn’t impress as many thought he might on chase debut at Fairyhouse. Having looked back at it, he ran very keen in his reappearance last season, so I’d say Paul Townend was mindful of that and rode him very quietly. Not that he jumped badly on reappearance, but I would expect him to be a lot sharper now and come on for that run. Sa Majeste and Search For Glory have some nice form, but really Impaire Et Passe should be on a different level to these opponents.

Leopardstown, Sunday

STATE MAN and Brighterdaysahead reoppose in the Neville Hotels Hurdle (2:30pm) on Sunday. State Man came to win his race in the Morgiana but was untidy at the last hurdle, while Brighterdaysahead had the benefit of a run that day. I think having a run already under her belt may have made the difference there. While I think going left-handed might suit Brighterdaysahead better than last time, I can see State Man stepping forward a lot from the Morgiana. The level of his improvement from that run to this should make State Man very hard to beat.