RACING:JUST 12 days after making his first appearance over fences, Quito De La Roque can graduate to Grade One class in today's Fort Leney Chase and provide owner Michael O'Leary with a perfect late Christmas present.
The Ryanair boss has long declared that his ideal racing environment is being stuck behind a ditch in the pouring rain on a point-to-point field, and conditions at Leopardstown today may not be far removed from that.
Certainly Quito De La Roque is the sort of steeplechase prospect O’Leary likes, and the six-year-old’s appreciation of a slog can prove a major asset in today’s €75,000 main support event which is named after the 1968 Cheltenham Gold Cup hero.
Stamina was always going to be the forte of this half-brother to the World Hurdle-placed Kazal, and he thrived on ultra-heavy ground last Easter to win a valuable hurdle at Fairyhouse.
Trainer Colm Murphy has always thought a lot of Quito De La Roque, who only reappeared at Clonmel less than a fortnight ago to make a winning chase debut over two-and-a-half miles.
That might not have been as spectacular a performance as the two which Thegreatjohnbrowne has put in at Punchestown this season, but this three-mile trip will be a big test for novices, and the ability to grind, rather than anything flash, could be vital.
Head Of The Posse represents Jessies Dream’s Drinmore form and Tony McCoy flies in to take the ride on JP McManus’s novice.
Quadrillon is another one sure to relish a slog, but if it turns into a battle of dour-staying French-breds, then Quito De La Roque can emerge best.
Stamina will also be at a premium in the Grade Two Woodies Christmas Hurdle, where champion trainer Willie Mullins looks to have a solid formbook favourite in Mourad.
Any horse capable of getting within five lengths of Hurricane Fly in the Hatton’s Grace has the quality to win a race like this, but Mourad’s previous three-mile experience was on a much sounder surface than this.
Rigour Back Bob doesn’t have Mourad’s class, but he comes here in form having defeated Stonemaster in Navan’s Tara Hurdle earlier in the month.
It was only in the final stages that Edward O’Grady’s hardy chestnut managed to get on top, but the manner of that success over two-and-a-half suggests an extra half mile should pay to the strengths of Rigour Back Bob.
Tony McCoy has four booked rides for McManus, including Kempes in the Lexus, and Galvanising in an opening two-and-a- half-mile maiden hurdle that could instead kick off a decent day’s work for former champion trainer Noel Meade.
He unveils Tom Horn over flights here, there were plenty of fingers burned when this one was narrowly beaten on his first racecourse start in a bumper at Navan.
So Young is a triple winner in his native France and has his first start for Mullins in Ireland in this race, but Tom Horn is preferred.
Meade also saddles an interesting runner in the two-mile handicap hurdle considering Prima Vista contested a Grade Three at Navan on his previous start. The Galway maiden winner didn’t get very far, exiting at the third behind Hidden Cyclone, but this looks an interesting step into handicap company.
Tadhg sprang a 25 to 1 surprise on his previous start at Thurles when beating The Bull Hayes by a couple of lengths, but there didn’t look to be any hint of a fluke about it. There won’t be any 25 to 1 about for today’s novice handicap hurdle.
