EDWARD O’GRADY’S horses have been in sparkling form in Ireland recently and the Co Tipperary-based trainer will hope to carry that abroad at the weekend when he plans a lucrative Anglo-French raid.
Tranquil Sea is currently an 8 to 1 third favourite for Saturday’s Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham and while Jumbo Rio is an entry for Sunday’s big race at Punchestown, he will instead travel to Auteuil for the Grade One Prix Renaud Du Vivier, a race for four-year-olds run over almost two and a half miles.
“We left Jumbo Rio in the Morgiana in case he missed the boat or something happened but the plan is to sail in the morning,” O’Grady said yesterday.
“We look like starting second favourite on Sunday. JP (McManus) has Rock Noir in the race and he looks like being favourite.”
Jumbo Rio ran twice at the Paris track during the summer and returns for a €270,000 prize that has a total entry of 15 horses. O’Grady’s four-year-old landed a Grade One pot last season at the Punchestown festival in April.
Only three Irish-trained horses, Fortria (1960-62), Skymas (1973) and Bright Highway (1980) have ever won the Paddy Power Gold Cup but hopes appear to be growing that Tranquil Sea could bridge that 29-year gap.
Northern Alliance (Tony Martin) and Jaamid (Noel Meade) are the other Irish possibles for the race but bookmakers rate Tranquil Sea the best hope after an encouraging return to action at Naas last month.
“He has been in very good form since his last start and the fact we are running means we don’t think he is handicapped too badly,” O’Grady said.
Tranquil Sea finished sixth on his last trip to Cheltenham in March’s Jewson Handicap behind Chaproturgeon who is currently a 6 to 1 market leader for Saturday’s race.
O’Grady also reported yesterday that his For Auction Hurdle winner Judge Roy Bean will miss the Royal Bond Hurdle at the end of the month and instead return to Navan for the Monksfield Hurdle over two and a half miles on Saturday week.
Philip Fenton has given the green-light to Dunguib running at Punchestown on Saturday in a two mile conditions hurdle after the bumper champion impressed in a piece of work yesterday.
“He just did a half-speed with Woodbine Willie and was in very good form so will take his chance at Punchestown,” Fenton said.
Clonmel passed an inspection yesterday afternoon although the situation continues to be officially monitored ahead of today’s card which features the Grade Two Clonmel Oil Chase.
A total of eight line up, with last year’s winner Glenfinn Captain fancied to repeat that 2008 victory for Tom Taaffe.
On figures Snowy Morning comes out ahead but Glenfinn Captain has had a run already this term, behind Oscar Dan Dan over hurdles at Thurles, and that could prove decisive.
There will be disappointment among the all-conquering Willie Mullins team though if Fionnegas can’t maintain an unbeaten record in the opening novice hurdle.
Fionnegas is not an easy ride but he added to a fine impression made in bumpers with a smooth success over flights at Ballinrobe in May and he looks a contender for top novice honours this season.
Moskova is Ruby Walsh’s mount in the Grade Three mares chase but she has to concede weight, and recent race fitness, to the Fairyhouse winner Here Comes Sally.
