Irish Preview: Destination out on his own

Following an action-packed week of racing at Leopardstown over the Christmas period it has been fairly quiet in Ireland, but Naas stage a good-quality card on Sunday. It broke earlier this week that the much-anticipated clash between Samcro and Next Destination won’t happen this weekend due to Samcro having scoped unsatisfactorily on Wednesday morning. However, Gordon Elliott reported that it won’t keep his exciting novice out for long and Samcro will hopefully run at the Winter Festival at Leopardstown in February. Despite this, the Grade 1 novice hurdle over two and a half miles has still attracted a quality field, and looks set to be an interesting renewal.

Rematch

Next Destination was a smart bumper performer last season and has quickly reached a similar level over hurdles, impressing with the manner in which he put distance between himself and the rest of the field on his debut over timber in November. He cemented that positive impression when winning a Grade 2 over this trip at Navan last time by five and a half lengths from the reopposing Cracking Smart, running to a level that puts him amongst the top rank of novice hurdlers this season. Gordon Elliott and Gigginstown House Stud won this race last year with Death Duty and Cracking Smart remains with potential as a hurdler, but it’s hard to see him reversing the form with Next Destination, and is probably running here in place of Samcro; he will be of more interest back at three miles.

Wow! Champion Bumper fourth Next Destination creates a mighty impression on hurdles debut at @NaasRacecourse: pic.twitter.com/xLCwvnHlQt

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) November 11, 2017

Money well spent?

Speak Easy cost £220,000 after winning his sole start in points, and made a winning start under Rules in a two-mile maiden hurdle here last month, not going with the same fluency as some of the other principals, but stamping his authority on the race in the closing stages to win by six lengths. He will stay at least this far and looks an exciting prospect for top connections.

Back for more

Noel Meade and Mrs Patricia Hunt won this race in 2012 with Monksland and have another promising hurdler on their hands in the shape of Moyross. A winning pointer, he showed plenty to work on with a view to going hurdling in bumpers last season, and has duly made a good impression winning both of his starts over hurdles so far. He didn’t need to improve to maintain his unbeaten record over three miles at Cork last time, but won with more in hand than the two and a half winning margin suggests, asserting quickly on the run-in. Moyross is well worth his place in this line-up and it would be folly to ignore his claims. Athenean also represents Meade and is worth a try at this level. He shaped well in a maiden hurdle which has worked out extremely well on his debut in this sphere and duly built on that when winning at Cork last month in good style. On pedigree he will be suited by this step up in trip and he is open to further improvement.

Conclusion

In spite of there being plenty of potential on show, it will be disappointing if the promising Next Destination isn’t able to extend his unbeaten record over hurdles to three. He has already achieved more than his rivals, surely has more to offer still, and will be a tough nut to crack as his odds suggest. Cracking Smart is the main danger on form, but would make more appeal if this race were over three miles, so it could be Speak Easy who emerges as the main danger. He shaped as though he’d appreciate this step up in trip when winning on his hurdling debut and he looks an exciting recruit.