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Paul Jacobs’ Selections
13:55 Navan – Zanahiyr
14:05 Fontwell – D’Jango
14:55 Cheltenham – Playful Saint
15:05 Navan – Changing The Rules
13:55 Navan – Zanahiyr
There is a superb card at the Co Meath track this afternoon and this renewal of the Grade Two Railway Bar Lismullen Hurdle looks more than up to scratch.Dual Stayers Hurdle Champion, Flooring Porter, will be the star attraction as he bids to join the staying greats with a hat-trick of wins at Cheltenham in March and this is a good starting place for him, but he doesn’t have a brilliant record fresh and this two and a half mile trip looks on the sharp side.
My preference is for the two up and coming hurdlers in Bob Olinger and the selection. The former looked very smart as a novice hurdler, but blew out over fences at Cheltenham last year when not jumping a single obstacle with any fluency at the Festival. It remains to be seen if he will remain over hurdles this season, but a big run here would surely make up Henry De Bromhead’s mind.
However, I slightly prefer his five-year-old rival ZANAHIYR who I think could come into his own over three miles this term and this trip will hold no fears for him. He saw the backside of both Honeysuckle and Sharjah on two occasions apiece last season and has bags of improvement to come as his stamina is properly tested this season.
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14:05 Fontwell – D’Jango
When I first looked at this renewal of the Southern National Handicap Chase I rather liked the look of top weight Full Back especially following a lovely pipe-opener behind when running fourth to Our Power in the London Gold Cup at Ascot first time up.
I may well have a saver on the Gary Moore trained runner, but at the weights and in receipt of fully 26lbs I think that the David Pipe D’JANGO charge could run well at an each-way price. With not an awful lot of rain forecast, conditions will be to the liking of this nine-year-old who has run two solid races at here at Fontwell and at Newton Abbot, both times being touched off my Minella Voucher. His style of racing more than suggests that this step up from three and a quarter miles will be his natural port of call.The lightly raced 10-year-old Samuel Jackson is also worth a second look along with I See You Well and now veteran lung bursting regular Cyclop.
14:55 Cheltenham – Playful Saint
The feature Unibet Greatwood Handicap Hurdle (2.55) at Cheltenham this afternoon looks a fascinating betting event with several improving young tigers set to line up against seasoned, proven handicap hurdlers. Grand National winning trainer Emmet Mullins has lined up his Thousand Tears for this valuable event and he looked very unlucky the last time we saw him over timber when unseating two out at Thurles in December. It seems that this has been a long range plan and even off a significantly higher mark, the seven-year-old could be fairly treated.However, I thought that one of the biggest eye catchers of the season was the lightly raced selection and I am surprised that he is still available at a big each-way price following his first run back from a 233 day break at Chepstow last month.
On that occasion, the selection was very keen early on, but Harry Skelton did a lovely job getting his partner into a rhythm without over burdening him. He was given a lovely educational prep for this valuable contest, eventually running on very strongly to finish a never nearer 19 and a half lengths fourth. The son of Saint Dees Saint PLAYFUL SAINT has a nice 9lbs turnaround in the weights with the progressive Sonigino and I expect a huge step forward from the gelding who could well be a springer in the market with the likes of Harbour Lake and Current Mood two other each-way players too consider in a fair renewal.
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15:05 Navan – Changing The Rules
A huge field early-season handicap hurdle like this is right up my punting street and you could readily make a case for at least 10 of these in the hope that they are fit and ready to do themselves justice.
Fortunedefortunata will be at the top of most punters’ lists following a highly impressive success at Galway off a rating of 109 and even a hefty rise to 120 may not be able to stop this son of Soldier of Fortune going back to back here. I also respect the claims of course and distance winners Global Export and Irish Blaze, but its the Jessie Harrington runner Changing the Rules that intrigues me most of all. The very lightly raced son of that great National Hunt stallion, Walk In The Park, showed enough promise in three runs last year to be seriously considered here off a rating of 116. He was particularly eye-catching on his third and final start in a 2m 4f maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse when finishing his race off nicely behind Whatsavaliable.
Paul Jacobs’ Selections
13:55 Navan – Zanahiyr
14:05 Fontwell – D’Jango
14:55 Cheltenham – Playful Saint
15:05 Navan – Changing The Rules
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