Jane Mangan
Jane Mangan’s William Hill blog: Savills Chase Sunday Preview
William Hill ambassador Jane Mangan previews Leopardstown’s Sunday card, where Galopin Des Champs returns in the Savills Chase.
Sunday, Leopardstown
The two-and-a-half-mile handicap hurdle (12.45pm), is a tricky puzzle, but I like the profile of Nagar Reedy, who has been knocking on the door without quite getting his head in front. He was well fancied for this race last year and has been difficult to place since, but he ran with real credit when second to Letos in a Listed handicap at Naas last time. Michael Keneally is excellent value for his claim and retains the ride. Although the horse has been hit with a four-pound rise for that effort, Letos looks a smart performer, and that form should be strong enough to see Nagar Reedy go very close or even get his deserved day in the sun.
I am firmly of the belief that Willie Mullins’ horses tend to take a significant step forward from their first run of the season to their second. We saw it with Kitzbuhel in his imperious Kempton display, and again with Narciso Has in the juvenile hurdle on the 26th under Danny Mullins. With that in mind, I am going to side with Kiss Will in the Beginners Chase (1.20pm). He looked like a serious contender at Fairyhouse before pecking on landing at the third last and going down four lengths behind The Big Doyen and Patter Merchant. If he sharpens up on the jumping front, as I expect he will, he is more than capable of turning the form around with Patter Merchant and could take this en route to bigger targets later in the season.
The Christmas Hurdle (1.55pm) has all the ingredients of a fascinating contest. Home By The Lee, last year’s winner, lines up once again on the eve of his eleventh birthday, while the rematch between the Hatton’s Grace duo Ballyburn and Teahupoo is very much on. I think Ballyburn will be ridden differently this time, with the benefit of a run under his belt and Paul Townend likely to be more streetwise in how he deploys his stamina. He does run with his head low, but he is not a tearaway in the mould of Un De Sceaux. Teahupoo enjoyed a perfect setup at Fairyhouse, but now that they step up to three miles, the gloves are off, and I think Ballyburn could pack the stronger punch.
Galopin Des Champs is an exceptional horse around Leopardstown, having won seven times over fences here, including the last two renewals of the Savills Chase. However, without the benefit of a prep run this season and with his tenth birthday just around the corner, I am prepared to take him on in what is a stellar renewal. I am going to oppose him with a horse who really caught my eye in the John Durkan, Fastorslow. He had not been seen for twelve months prior to that run and was beaten a long way by Gaelic Warrior, but he was ridden with great restraint and consideration. Having been on track for the first two days of the meeting, the ground is riding on the quick side, which should play to Fastorslow’s strengths and potentially work against rivals such as Galopin Des Champs, Gerri Colombe and Grangeclare West. Galopin Des Champs is imperious, no doubt about that, but without a run, I think he can be beaten, and Fastorslow may have conditions very much in his favour.
The Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle (3.05pm) looks a gruelling contest and it will take a tough, battle-hardened horse to come out on top. Timeless Treaty is the one I keep coming back to. He ran a cracker behind Billy Lee Swagger in a two-and-a-half-mile handicap at Fairyhouse last time, and I think stepping up in trip here will really play to his strengths. He made a significant mistake three out that day, which undoubtedly cost him momentum, but it also means he has been left on a mark of 126. I am convinced he is well handicapped, and this looks a lovely opportunity for an all-conquering yard and a jockey who can do very little wrong at present.
