BY its nature, the £60,000 Ladbroke Hurdle has always attracted certain ante post support with almost daily accounts of "gambles", but ever since the weights were published Khayrawani has retained his position at the head of the market. Thanks to the defection of the Aidan O'Brien trained duo Urubande and Theatreworld both now bound for the AIG Irish Champion Hurdle and Baiawhar, the weights rise by 8lb, leaving Notcomplainingbut with the unenviable task of carrying top weight of 11st 12lb.
Most Ladbroke winners emerge from the lower end of the handicap, which is one reason O'Brien elected not to run Urubande and Theatreworld and to rely instead on King Of Kerry, an improving hurdler who should not find 10st 3lb too onerous a burden.
King Of Kerry has won three of his last four races and at Thurles last time out defeated the 4lb conceding Dardjini by a length. The runner up had previously short headed Family Way at Fairyhouse - both staging their seasonal debuts. On a line through Dardjini, there is not a lot to choose between Family Way and King of Kerry However, on the score of experience the four years older Family Way has a considerable advantage over his rival, who won his maiden hurdle less than threes months ago.
Family Way was not in the least fancied at Fairyhouse, where ridden by a 7lb claimer, he was touched off by Dardjini. He has some decent form to his credit, and in this race last year failed by a length to give 7lb to the ill fated Dance Beat. Trainer Arthur Moore has a most impressive record in this race and Family Way is his sole representative.
Owner J. P. McManus, whose colours were carried to success no less than five times at the Christmas meeting here, is, from an entry of four, also represented with the favourite, Khayrawani. Trained by Christy Roche, the five year old Khayrawni has not run since winning a competitive handicap hurdle with consummate ease at Listowel in September. He had previously finished fourth behind Mystical City in the Galway Hurdle, and the form of that big race has worked out remarkably well.
Khayrawni, who as he showed when winning at Killarney in July, runs well when fresh. He is suited by good ground and ran his only bad race on contrasting going at Punchestown in April. Providing there is not an overnight deluge the going should not be too bad.
Guest Performance has also been backed. Dessie Hughes charge unseated his rider in the race won by Theatreworld over this course at Christmas but had earlier defeated Rawy at Fairyhouse. However, I fear he has his full share of weight.
The consistent Penny A Day is one of three Mary Reveley trained runners and does appear to have the best credentials. However, British trained horses have a poor record in this race. Black Queen, a good winner here last time out has each way prospects from this mark, and the consistent Hill Society, runner up to Theatreworld here, could run a big race.
As always, the Ladbroke is a tough race to solve, usually run at one hell of a gallop and the winner needs all the luck in the world. In, opting between the McManus duo, Khayrawni and Family Way, I slightly favour the latter. He may be a little long in the tooth, but at least he has performed well in this demanding race and Arthur Moore, who invariably has his charges at peak for the big occasion, knows what it takes to win.
Unusually, there is only a handful of runners for the Pierse Leopardstown Chase, which has drawn last year's winner, Royal Mountbrowne, who has a lot more to do on this occasion. Aidan O'Brien also runs Idiots Venture, who fell in the race won by the ill fated Johnny Setaside here. King Of the Gales made a lot of ground to finish second and must have a big chance, but the choice is J. P. McManus's Time For A Run, who ran a good race to finish third behind New Co and Wylde Hide in the Paddy Power Handicap Chase over this course and distance.
Rawy can go one better in the Fitzpatrick Claiming Hurdle,
