GREY horses are making the headlines lately so here are some of the leading grey contenders for Festival honours next week from both sides of the Irish Sea.
Thousand Stars
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| image: thescore.ie |
An admirably consistent horse, he has spent most of the last two seasons chasing home stablemate Hurricane Fly. A talented horse in his own right, he finally picked up the Grade One he deserved when taking the French Champion hurdle last June. He then added a second, winning the Morgiana hurdle at Punchestown in the absence of the superstar. He seemed to be unlucky behind Unaccompanied at Christmas and was disappointing behind Hurricane Fly in the Irish Champion Hurdle. Entered in the Champion and World Hurdles, dethroning either of the reigning champions seems to be almost impossible. Defending champion Hurricane Fly is an exceptional horse and nothing looks capable of beating him. Big Buck’s is the outstanding staying hurdler but hasn’t really been tested. Oscar Whisky is seen as his main challenger but Thousand Stars ran him to a head in a Grade One at Aintree last season and the step up in trip could help Willie Mullins’ charge. Although Mullins has high quality entries for that race, Thousand Stars looks an each way bet for the World Hurdle.
Champion Hurdle 20/1
World Hurdle 10/1
Champagne Fever
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| Champagne Fever leading at Fairyhouse image:racingpost.com |
Another grey trained by Willie Mullins. Champagne Fever is vying for favouritism in the Champion Bumper and looks to be Mullins’ leading contender for the race. Enough said!
Champion Bumper 7/1
Ipsos du Berlais
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| image:irishracing.com |
A Gigginstown House Stud owned grey, he earned himself a trip to Cheltenham with an eye catching victory over Western Leader at Punchestown in January. Before that he was third to Boston Bob at Navan which is proving to be good form. Meade was disappointed with how he travelled in Punchestown but said that he was lazy. The better ground, faster gallop and longer trip he will get at Cheltenham will help him concentrate better. Navan conqueror Boston Bob could reoppose here but Ipsos du Berlais should improve and could run into a place.
Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle 16/1
Al Ferof
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| image: independent.ie |
This grey started off his career in Ireland but moved to Paul Nicholls when he was bought by John Hales. The toy manufacturer has owned high class grey chasers One Man and Azertyuiop and his latest grey could follow in their illustrious hoofprints. Al Ferof was second in the Champion Bumper in 2010 and went one better on his return to the festival last year, winning the Supreme Novices Hurdle. He is entered in the Arkle Novices’ Chase next Tuesday. Sprinter Sacre is the hot favourite but Al Ferof is an exciting prospect and jockey Ruby Walsh advised his twitter followers to take advantage of Paddy Power’s money back special in that race and back the grey.
Arkle Chase 5/1
Simonsig
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| image: irishracing.com |
Another grey who started his career in Ireland, Nicky Henderson’s horse is one of England’s leading novice hurdle hopes for the festival. Simonsig was the highly impressive winner of two bumpers here last season before being sold to join Henderson’s team. He has run in three novice hurdles in England this season. His only defeat was to Fingal Bay. Injury means that he will miss out so whichever race Simonsig goes for he will be leading the home defence.
Supreme Novices’ Hurdle 5/1 – 9/1
Neptune Investments Novices’ Hurdle 5/2 – 7/2
Grand Crus
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| image: telegraph.co.uk |
Last year he tried to give Big Buck’s a race but finished second to him at both Cheltenham and Aintree before rounding up his hurdling career sixth to Thousand Stars in the French Champion Hurdle. Since switching to the larger obstacles he has set the world alight. Unbeaten in his three starts he has been so impressive that connections have entered him in the RSA Novices Chase and the Gold Cup. With Kauto Star’s Gold Cup participation in doubt, they will be seriously tempted to run this precocious chaser in the big one.
RSA Chase 7/4
Gold Cup 6/1
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