Sport

Kephren is just preferred to Hakkinen in Lismore Hurdle

THERE are certain `ifs and buts' concerning the principals Master Oats and Jodami for Sunday's Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown…

By MICHAEL O'FARRELL
Wed Jan 31 1996 - 00:00

THERE are certain `ifs and buts' concerning the principals Master Oats and Jodami for Sunday's Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown and while the former Gold CLIP winner Jodami is attempting to win the race for the fourth time at 11 years of age, a reasonably fit Master Oats would start a warm favourite, especially if last year's Gold CLIP hero is favoured by soft ground.

It appears that Master Oats is on his way back after his latest performance at Sandown which although up to a stone and a half below his best was infinitely better than that dreadful run at Chepstow on his seasonal reappearance.

am sure Flashing Steel, Life Of A Lord and Imperial Call will give a good account of themselves. The latter did well to beat Strong Platinum at Leopardstown and if the ground was against Strong Platinum and favoured the winner the two and a quarter mile trip was a long way short of Imperial Call's best.

Fergie Sutherland's good chaser is bound for the Gold Cup and if Life Of A Lord should win he will take his chance in the Gold Cup rather than the Grand National which this year comes only two weeks after Cheltenham.

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Hakkinen, fifth behind Storm Front when favourite for a competitive handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse, would have a good chance on his best in today's Lismore Handicap Hurdle at Tramore. However, I just prefer Kephren who ran the improved Over The Jordan to three lengths over this course some weeks ago.

Touched off by Sleepy River in a maiden hurdle over this course, the Willie Mullins-trained Malacca King will be supported for the Brownstown Hurdle but the choice is the Aidan O'Brien-trained Alices Run.

Runner-up to Beat The Second at Punchestown, Stradballey is taken to go one better in the beginner's chase and Aegean Fanfare can give the weight in the Tramore Handicap Hurdle.

Down Royal was passed fit after a noon inspection yesterday. The best bet may be La-Greine in the handicap chase. Ian Duncan's mare did well to run the National Hunt Chase bound Kalona to two lengths in a handicap chase at Fairyhouse.