Brilliant novice Dunguib has been given a precautionary entry in the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.
Although trainer Philip Fenton insists the Supreme Novices Hurdle is still the planned objective for his stable star, he feels it best to have the Champion as an option – and why not?
He is likely to be seen next in the Deloitte Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown on February 7 and is 6-4 favourite for the Supreme Novices with Sean Grahams.
Following the news that Dunguib was among the entries for the Champion Hurdle, announced yesterday, Sean Graham quote Fenton's charge as a 16-1 shot with a run, but will be up against the likes of Zaynar, Solwhit, Go Native and title-holder Punjabi and I think, fair play – this horse could be a world-beater.
Great action ahead in the next few days and we start with the Theystes Chase at Gowran Park this afternoon with the Grade A event worth £70,000. We are sticking with the whispers we got last week about FOOTY FACTS. He’s from the Robert Tyner yard and if he can tighten up on his jumping over fences then he will go close today,
On to Saturday’s action and we start at Ascot with the Grade 1 Victor Chandler Chase (2.40) where we think TWIST MAGIC could start a winning weekend for the Paul Nicholls yard.
Sean Grahams have installed him as their 11/8 favourite with Petit Magic next best at 5/2 – he beat another of Saturday’s runners, Well Chief, last time out. Fix the Rib loves Ascot and should set the pace and could hang on to the forecast spot or an each-way place at 20/1.
We have the Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock on Saturday and MORGAN BE could be a live outsider in this one with the dour stayer priced at 20/1 for the three-mile event.
On to the big meeting of the weekend at Leopardstown on Sunday and we start with the big one – the Irish Champion Hurdle.
The Irish hurdling crown has stayed on our shores for the last six years and you have to go back to Foreman’s victory in 2004 for the last time it left – we think it could be leaving the Emerald Isle once again this year.
Paul Nicholls sends over CELESTIAL HALO for this year’s race and we think the Champion Hurdle runner-up is the one to beat.
On his seasonal debut he hacked up at Wincanton before finding Kyber Kim too good at Cheltenham. We think he will have too much speed for the jolly Solwhit.
It could be a Sunday to remember for Ruby Walsh who has a massive chance in the Irish Arkle where he is on the progressive SPORTS LINE, who looked a natural on his jumping debut at Navan.
We end with the lottery which is the Leopardstown MCR Hurdle and we have put two horses up for this one, STEVIEMAC chasing his fourth win in a row, while MOVILLE can follow up on his recent Navan win – both horses are at 12/1 with Grahams.
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