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1.10pm – The Getaway Star
This is one race that hasn’t been completely dominated by Gordon Elliott, Willie Mullins, Henry de Bromhead and Joseph O’Brien. Shane Crawley, Liam Cusack and Robert Tyner have all won this since 2014, suggesting an open event.
THE GETAWAY STAR is trained by Declan Queally, who has had eight winners this season and had nine last season. The Getaway Star beat Larquebuse in a Fairyhouse bumper at the Easter festival in 2019 when landing a bit of a punt. She bolted up that day and followed up at Cork when beating Getaway Gorgeous.
She was well beaten at Listed level at Navan and then was second to Panic Attack in a Market Rasen bumper before coming fourth on hurdles debut in a Down Royal Grade 3 over 2m, looking like she would be detached before running on to be beaten by less than three lengths. She was second to Royal Kahala over 2m4f at Fairyhouse and, while that was a little disappointing, she has proved to be well above average when third at Tramore on her next start in a race which Minella Escape won and Gorki D’airy finished second – but they are both geldings and The Getaway Star looks well set up for this race.
1.40pm – Youmdor
My initial selection in this race was French Aseel, but the four-year-old is a non-runner. Instead, I will go for YOUMDOR. He is Paul Townend’s pick out of Willie Mullins’ runners here and he looked unlucky when falling at the final hurdle on his last start. He can make amends here.
Quilixios is 3-3 over hurdles and 2-2 for Gordon Elliott but has not been seen since the end of October.
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2.10pm – Appreciate It
Willie Mullins has won this race every year since 2013, bar 2018 when Samcro won, and he had the second, fourth and fifth in that race. Interestingly, since this event was changed to 2m from 2m2f, Mullins’ two winners came straight from winning a maiden hurdle. APPRECIATE IT won his first Grade 1 last time out by nine lengths in a decent time and will be very tough to beat.
Meanwhile, Keskonrisk is a horse I haven’t given up on despite being beaten 13 lengths by Appreciate It when third in the Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Christmas. He was impressive when winning his bumper, where he had the very useful Gabynako back in third, and won his hurdles debut at Fairyhouse getting up to get Indigo Breeze on the line despite not getting the best of runs and needing to make up about 3 lengths from the final hurdle. I could easily see him finishing a bit closer here and hitting the frame again. I think he will be at his best when getting a really strong pace on better ground, while Master McShee wasn’t beaten far by Appreciate It in Cork and is another one with claims.
2.40pm – Downtown Getaway
DOWNTOWN GETAWAY will be an intriguing runner on his first start for Willie Mullins, having bolted up in a Fairyhouse bumper on debut for Mags Mullins. Remastered, who is rated 138 for David Pipe now in the UK, was second in that race.
He was switched to Nicky Henderson for £350,000 back in 2018, winning on his second hurdles start at Ascot but was then midfield in the Sefton Novices Hurdle at Aintree which Champ won. He won on his second handicap start off 131, beating the very useful Palmers Hill in February at Kempton, but went back there in March and was a disappointing 3/1 favourite. He is rated 135 here and would be stepping up to 3m for the first time since that Aintree Grade 1 effort.
Pure Genius is a second season novice, having won on his only start on the Flat in France when beating Morosini – who is now also owned by JP McManus and could run here as well. The six-year-old ran well on all three starts last season over 2m, but was well beaten on both starts this season before becoming a revelation on the step up to 3m at Punchestown in the middle of January when winning by 51 lengths. Fantasio D’alene disappointed and didn’t see out the trip but Pure Genius looks to have got a decent mark of 127.
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3.10pm – Janidil (without Monkfish)
Monkfish might be slightly vulnerable dropped to 2m5f but was impressive winning his beginners at that trip at Fairyhouse. He then won the Grade 1 Nevilles Hotel over 3m at Christmas, beating Latest Exhibition by three lengths.
However, JANIDIL was impressive when bolting up on his chase debut at Naas. The second Longhouse Poet, third January Jets, fourth Espanito Belle and sixth Mr Hendricks have all won over fences since. Janidil was third in the Grade 1 over 2m3f at Limerick behind Colreevy and Pnecilfulloflead, beaten 16 lengths, but Limerick can get really testing and perhaps it was too testing. He is better than that.
3.40pm – Minella Indo
Delta Work won this last year with Kemboy in second and they re-oppose. MINELLA INDO fell in the Savills Chase at Christmas when 5/2 favourite, but he had been jumping really well before that fall and the RSA form is working out fairly well.
Allaho, who was third in the RSA, won at Thurles in the Grade 2 Horse & Jockey Club and is nearly favourite for the Ryanair while Bettleoverdoyen won a Grade 2 in Down Royal, Aye Right was third in the Charlie Hall, second in the Ladbroke Trophy and second in the Sky Bet Chase. Castlebawn West unseated in the RSA but won the Paddy Power Chase.
Minella Indo needs to be winning this to be a proper Gold Cup contender.
Horse Racing tips: 7 Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup contenders at Leopardstown
4.10pm – At The Acorn (second reserve)
Off You Go would be interesting if the cash came, as he won the 2018 and 2019 renewals of the Ladbroke Handicap Hurdle here off 123 and 143 respectively. He runs off 140 here and could still be on a fair mark, as he was second to Chatham Street Lad at Cork in November over 2m – Chatham Street Lad then bolted up in the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup.
AT THE ACORN was 9/2 fav in this last year but was badly hampered at two out (which was the last that day) when still travelling and finished sixth, beaten by less than 10 lengths. He has had three starts over hurdles this season and shown very little – he is a ‘cliff horse’ for me but I can’t give up on him yet. He has only had six chase starts and if you go way back to his point win, he won by 8 lengths from Collooney (now rated 134), Pres (now rated 118) and Fiddlerontheroof (now rated 152).
Crossed My Mind is interesting too in search of the hat-trick this season.
4.40pm – Take Tea
I have no strong opinion at all on the Mares’ Bumper. Willie Mullins appears to have a great team of mares for bumpers this season but I have no idea which one is the best – I would maybe go for TAKE TEA.
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widget, while in-copy odds are accurate at time of publication but subject to change
Frank Hickey’s bet summary – Sunday, February 7
1.10pm – The Getaway Star
1.40pm – Youmdor
2.10pm – Appreciate It
2.40pm – Downtown Getaway
3.10pm – Janidil (without Monkfish)
3.40pm – Minella Indo
4.10pm – At The Acorn (second reserve)
4.40pm – Take Tea
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