FIELDS at Leopardstown today, especially the three feature races, are very disappointing but Imperial Call's absence in the £50,000 Ericsson Chase cannot be helped as he has not yet recovered from his crashing fall at Punchestown.
However, The Ericsson Chase is quite open and on official ratings there is only 6lb between Opera Hat, Son Of War, Idiots Venture, Johnny Setaside and King Of the Gales.
Taking her sex allowance into consideration, Opera Hat emerges the pick of this sextet. If this event were run at Naas, where she has won seven times, I would have little hesitation in choosing her and while she failed lamentably in a four horse chase at Leopardstown in October, there were excuses.
Son Of War, a former Irish Grand National, winner came back to his best when carrying top weight to an impressive win in the Conyngham Cup at Punchestown.
Johnny Setaside trounced Son Of War at Fairyhouse last month but the ground may not be as soft as he likes it. Idiots Venture never got in a blow behind Opera Hat at Naas but stayed on stoutly in the closing stages to finish a 10-length fifth and that was not a bad performance in the light of his long absence. He has had his training problems. King Of The Gales finished a long way back in that Naas race.
I have respect for Idiots Venture but Opera Hat is very consistent and I believe she will win.
Unfortunately opposition to Dorans Pride in the William Neville & Sons Novice Chase has dried up but at least it will be good to see him in action. He is a staying novice with a big future over fences and will be entered in the Gold Cup for which his owner has backed him at fancy odds.
The Christmas Hurdle has attracted What A Question and Antapoura, separated by a length and three-quarters in a three mile hurdle at Newbury last month, only this time the conditions are very much in favour of Aidan O'Brien's charge who had previously won a handicap hurdle with ease at Punchestown.
The distance of the O'Dwyers Stillorgan Orchard Novice Hurdle will suit Noble Thyne who was well beaten by lstabraq over two miles at Fairyhouse. The progressive Ask The Butler and Tarthooth are clear dangers.
Jim Bolger may land the RTE for Sport Handicap Hurdle with Clifdon Fog who finally won his maiden over timber at Clonmel where he produced a riveting turn of foot to score by three lengths. The Christy Roche trained Rawy may give the selection most to do.
Kilcoo Boy, the 12-length winner of a bumper at Naas in February might land the William Neville Maiden Hurdle and the Fairyhouse winner, Davenport Banquet, is taken to win the PB Bumper for Willie Mullins.
. Champion hurdlers Collier Bay and Alderbrook could clash early in the New Year after the BHB created a new race to compensate for the loss of yesterday's Christmas Hurdle. The pair are likely to be attracted by the Pertemps Hurdle, arranged following yesterday's abandonment of Kempton, which will be added to the card at Sandown on January 4th.
It is one of two races created yesterday, the other a £15,000 added Levy Board Chase, a limited handicap over two miles at Uttoxeter on New Year's Day designed to attract those engaged in today's abandoned Castleford Chase at Wetherby.
. Champion jockey Tony McCoy was handed the ride on Mr Mulligan for the rest of the season yesterday after assuring connections he would make himself available for the Gold Cup contender in future. He will replace the unfortunate Richard Johnson, whose association with David Nicholson has made it impossible for him to guarantee his availability to ride the chaser.
McCoy's next engagement with Mr Mulligan could be at Cheltenham in the Pillar Chase on January 25th, in a re-match with One Man and Rough Quest
. Tony Culhane belatedly received his best Christmas present at Southwell yesterday when a 71 to 1 treble on Jay-Owe-Two, Kalar and Fast Spin enabled him to register his first ever half-century of winners.
"I am absolutely chuffed to get the 50," said Culhane before taking his score to 51 on Fast Spin. "The link this season with Mary Reveley has been crucial. When other trainers see you riding for such a high profile yard, they take it for granted that you can do a job for them too."
