Nothing at the festival comes easy but sometimes it’s possible to over-complicate things and the evidence of their sole meeting to date suggests Benefficient has Dynaste’s number which could be enough to give the big Irish hope success in the
Ryanair Chase.
.
Dynaste was the big home fancy for last year's Jewson on this day 12 months ago but he came up over three lengths short of Benefficient who benefitted from an outstanding Bryan Cooper rail-scraping ride.
Cooper is committed to riding Rathlin for today's big-race sponsors and the irony that it is Davy Russell, the man replaced by Gigginstown, who steps in for a first ride on Benefficient today won't be lost on anyone.
The two horses who dominate the betting for this Grade One have been absent since Christmas when they enjoyed contrasting fortunes.
Benefficient beat Hidden Cyclone over two miles at Leopardstown but Dynaste struggled in the King George over three miles and those respective profiles look to give Tony Martin’s runner an edge on conditions that should be ideal.
Al Ferof was third in that King George, and endured a grueller at three miles last month on very testing ground at Newbury, the effects of which can hardly have boosted his chances here and it could be Hidden Cyclone who surprises a few on ground he will like and over a course he has run well on in the past.
"The horse was sick last year but he has improved with every this year and I'm delighted with the ground drying. On form he shouldn't be far away," his trainer Shark Hanlon said yesterday.
Each-way punters
The going may see Rathlin reward each-way punters too but Irish hopes look to be firmly invested in
Benefficient
and the Ryanair return can be substantial.
The first of the three Grade One's that make up today's six-race card is the JLT Novices Chase, formerly the Jewson, and newly-promoted to top-flight status which today produces a scenario that might have been specifically drawn up by Willie Mullins for Felix Yonger.
A horse capable of finishing runner-up to the outstanding Simonsig in the 2012 Neptune Hurdle will have no trouble with the two-and-a-half-mile trip around the New Course and quick ground conditions will be ideal for an individual that boasts some top-class form but has yet to actually win a Grade One.
Felix Yonger has beaten Defy Logic and Trifolium this season, both subsequent top-flight winners, and it’s no coincidence that his last two defeats have come on very testing conditions.
Mullins also runs Mozoltov and Djakadam who boast very decent form on soft ground with the latter in particular having his form boosted by Bright New Dawn. But
Felix Yonger
appears to be the definite stable number one.
To taper off
Day three used to be the time when Irish success rates started to taper off slightly but hopes will be high of a very good afternoon for the visitors and Nina Carberry can be the heroine in the concluding Kim Muir when she teams up with Cause Of Causes for Gordon Elliott.
Ground conditions should be no trouble to a horse campaigned through the summer in which he was just touched off by Rebel Fitz in a Galway Hurdle and on his best form over flights he doesn’t appear badly treated in the ratings here.
Cause Of Causes was only just touched off by Sraid Padraig at Fairyhouse in November over two miles but a step up to three miles shouldn't be an issue either and Carberry's presence in these amateur contests is always a plus.
The JP McManus team can also score in the Pertemps Final with If In Doubt. The Philip Hobbs-trained hope was just half a length off his stable-companion, and today's topweight Fingal Bay, at Exeter a month ago, an effort that should put him spot on for this.
Third Intention boasts form on good ground, including a second to Dynaste at Liverpool last season, that puts him right into the mix for the Byrne Group Plate.
The Tizzard runner has dropped 8lb in the ratings after a number of runs during the winter but boasts course winning form and now gets his conditions.
