Racing preview: With a blank Monday to Saturday ahead of us this weekend's racing offers the last opportunity for Irish punters to gather some bookie money with which to lift the spirits of the retailers.
Yesterday an early morning sortie into Dublin's city centre which revealed sundry sale signs already up suggested that trade was not exactly bursting out all over.
Against this background I hope that the Walshes, Ted and Ruby, appreciate the responsibility that rests upon them and on the legs of their runners. If things go right Ted should provide winning naps at both Navan and Thurles while Ruby, who is a Navan absentee, could bring home a Thurles treble.
The Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham is a race notorious for its surprises and its new sponsor JCB certainly kept us digging. It was very much in keeping with this scenario that full multiplied odds-on placing of the first three home last March would have paid out 26,400 to 1 with a 20 to 1 winner Made In Japan beating a 40 to 1 runner-up Chief Yeoman and a 33 to 1 best of the Irish Top Strategy.
In napping Top Strategy to put behind him two autumnal defeats in the Irish Racing Yearbook Hurdle, the major worry would be the possibility of his being a spring horse who does not relish these dark winter mornings.
His more recent outing when third to Leonardo Da Vinci at Naas, however, painted a more hopeful picture than his previous failure to cope with Hasanpour at Navan.
Bob Justice is a horse that runs in a series of conditions races in which there is apt to be one too good for him such as Solerina. He has a recent winner One Four Shannon to beat in the Lagan Handicap Chase.
Two beaten handicap hurdle favourites last time who are going on recovery missions are Supreme Peace in the Ladbrokes Roast Turkey Handicap Hurdle and Mountain Snow in the Gerry Fitzpatrick Handicap Hurdle.
An interesting acquisition for Ted Walsh was the lightly-raced ex-English Captain Pugwash. He was a good second in a bumper across the water and, on his Irish debut, ran seventh to New Field at Fairyhouse.
The margins separating the first six were not extravagant and, with Ruby aboard, he can win the long distance maiden hurdle at Thurles tomorrow when the possible dark horse amongst the opposition is Dusky Doolan, having won a point-to-point in the spring.
Other good rides for Ruby include Chukchi County in the Gift Horse Gallery Handicap Chase and Ballyguider Bridge in the Moycarkey Maiden Hurdle.
