Leopardstown 1.05
SEAN - Placespotter - Leopardstown 1.05 - Novice Hurdle - 2 miles 6 furlongs - Soft - 13 run
A competitive affair with some of the big Irish Yards represented and some nice types who could become household names in the next few years.
Mullins runs Gallard Du Mesnil who looks the one they all have to beat and would be stables main hope here with Townsend up. A facile Course winner in soft but a Flat bred horse and any deterioration in conditions may play into the favour of ones more NH bred and for that reason I'll seek value. If the weather is dry a small win saver close to the off at anything over 5/2 might be the tactical option.
I definitely want to have an each way punt of stablemate STATLER who is a progressive type, has a couple of lengths to find with VANILLER from the Cromwell yard but every indication following a Course win last time that the horse could be suited by conditions and the trip today and improve again.
There are some nice progressive types in here and one that really caught the eye last time was Gentlemansgame, a 3 mile P2P winner, facile win over 2 miles and one of those that you immediately track with the "could be anything" label. A big danger today but I'm very tempted by another who is more exposed but shown itself to be a real street-fighter on and off the bridle. Those facile winners are types that I really need to see under pressure, some can flatter to deceive others show they have heart as well as ability.
Fun Light was beaten by The Bosses Oscar and that one gives us a comparable mark and suggests over an ideal trip and in ideal underfoot conditions it may outrun Odds and be worth an interest if either of the main selections didn't run.
The one I can't leave though is VANILLER for Gavin Cromwell. A decent run at 2 miles and 4 furlongs, stayed on over 2 miles 7 furlongs to last time, seems fine in the mud and that visual evidence that I mentioned that we know when it is put under pressure off the bridle, that it will battle and fight. In these conditions against some yet to show that capability, I want some each way money on the street fighter against the fancier strutting types.
Trackers - (Statler + Vaniller) - win saver if you want on Gallard Du Mesnil