Sunday Irish Preview: Boyne Hurdle Day

With just four weekend’s to go until the Cheltenham Festival, this weekend represents a good opportunity for many of the top horses to have their final racecourse outings before taking in their respective Festival targets. The likes of Cue Card and Yanworth are set to be in action on Saturday in Britain, and there are sure to be Festival clues on offer at Navan on Sunday, too.

Three of the four runners in the Flybolt Novices’ Chase have entries in the Arkle at Cheltenham, including Identity Thief, who fell when 2/1 second favourite for the Irish equivalent three weeks ago. Identity Thief has yet to match his very smart hurdles form over the larger obstacles (winner of the Grade 1 Fighting Fifth Hurdle last season) and has now failed to complete on his last two starts (reportedly found to be lame after pulling up before that). He is the choice of Bryan Cooper and is wearing the first colours of his owner Gigginstown Stud, but their other runner Ball d’Arc – trained by Gordon Elliott – arguably has the edge on form (over fences at least). Ball d’Arc won a competitive handicap chase by nine lengths last time at Fairyhouse, and is worth a go in this grade. Ballyoisin will probably need to improve to trouble the Gigginstown pair, but he is very lightly raced – just four starts in total – and could easily have more to offer after winning a beginners chase in good style last time.

Sutton Place’s next target had been a hot topic of discussion after he won the Grade 3 Limestone Lad Hurdle in impressive style at Naas at the end of January. He didn’t run in the Betfair Hurdle (would have had a favourable mark) and hasn’t got any entries for the Cheltenham Festival as yet, but he is set to take in the Grade 2 Boyne Hurdle over an extended two and a half miles on Sunday. Out of a half-sister to Lord Who – who stayed 31 furlongs – the step up to this trip should be well within Sutton Places’ capabilities, and he looks an exciting prospect who should be hard to beat here, with his nearest rival on adjusted ratings, Renneti, more of a high-end handicapper than a graded performer at present.

J.P. McManus could well take the other Grade 2 on the card, too, with Anibale Fly topping the ratings in the Ten Up Novices’ Chase. Anibale Fly finished second in the Drinmore (conceded first run to the winner) in December before disappointed in the Kauto Star at Kempton on Boxing Day (sent off at 3/1). He got firmly back on track in a Grade 3 at Naas in late-January, however, putting up one of the best novice performances of the season in Ireland so far by beating A Genie In Abottle into second, the pair 30 lengths clear of the third. He must give away 3 lb to all here, but should be capable of winning again. Edwulf’s jumping looked more assured when he won at Puncherstown last time, and he could be the one to follow Anibale Fly home.