THE FEATURE RACE on Sunday is the Grade 2 Slaney Hurdle at Naas. Only six have been declared for the 2m 4f race but what it lacks in numbers is makes up for in quality.
Last year’s Cheltenham and Punchestown bumper winner Champagne Fever will be a short price favourite and rightly so. That Cheltenham Bumper has thrown up a number of subsequent winners. Willie Mullin’s horse reappeared in a maiden hurdle at Cork and was not extended when winning a Main Hurdle by five lengths over 2m.
He then went to the Royal Bond at Fairyhouse but came up against an exceptional horse in Jezki and it clear that in that class he needed a longer trip than 2m. Jezki went on to be an impressive winner of the Grade 1 at Leopardstown at Christmas while the third-placed Zuzka won the Grade 3 at the same meeting thus showing the form to be top class.
Minsk was fourth in the Royal Bond and meets Champagne Fever on the same terms but I can’t see him reversing the form. Joncol meets a Rule The World on 7lb worse terms than when the latter beat him by over 4 lengths at Navan in December and is unlikely to reverse the placings.
Sizing Jo’burg is an interesting runner. His owner Alan Potts paid €70,000 at Tattersalls in 2011. On his second ever run he was third, beaten just under 5 lengths by Union Dues who was installed as favourite for the Cheltenham Bumper after impressing at Navan on only his second run in December.
Sizing Jo’burg won his maiden hurdle impressively at Downpatrick in November. He jumped well that day over the 2m 2f trip and will enjoy stepping up. However, this is a step up in class although it’s interesting that his trainer Henry De Bromhead pitches him in here. He is definitely one to watch.
However I think Champagne Fever and Ruby Walsh will have too much for the rest.
