ferdy murphy - 1-1

the 2m5f Ryanair Chase could
be more suitable targets.
Glencove Marina (25-1) is a
similar sort, though you have to
add to the mix that he missed
the end of last season through
injury. He did look a high-class
novice last term and is bred to
get a trip, but he is not devoid
of pace and Willie Mullins could
start him off over shorter trips
when he returns to full fitness.
It must be noted, however,
that both the 2m and the 3m
chase divisions in Ireland lack a
real superstar at present and this
is potentially the most exciting
prospect – it is very much hoped
he retains all of his ability.
Eight horses come next on 33-1
and this group includes another
Paul Nicholls trained horse in the
shape of Big Buck’s who looked
far from straightforward in the
early part of last season.
Twice a winner at Newbury, he
looked a different proposition
when stepped up to 3m at Aintree
in April and he impressively took
the Grade 2 Mildmay Novices’
Chase. He is set to take on
stable-mate Denman off 10
stone in the Hennessy and, if he
is to become a Gold Cup possible,
he will probably have to bustle
up the Gold Cup winner on his
reappearance. Nicholls seems to
hold this French five-year-old in
high regard and it would not be
a surprise to see him in the Gold
Cup field come next March.
Royal & SunAlliance winner
Albertas Run finished only
third to Big Buck’s at Liverpool
but shows his best form at
Cheltenham, winning both chase
starts at the track.
He was an impressive winner
at the Festival, but there has
to be a suspicion that was a
weak renewal and he will need
to improve when he returns.
He, too, could start off in the
Hennessy, as connections must
be tempted to take on Denman
off a lowly weight.
Albertas Run beat Air Force
One in the Reynoldstown at
Ascot in February and Charlie
Mann’s chestnut disappointed in
fifth behind the same rival at the
Festival.
The apple of his trainer’s eye,
Air Force One went on to land
a Grade 1 at Punchestown in
April and he is yet another who
looks in need of a couple of stone
improvement to get in to the
Gold Cup shake up. Again, his
connections must be tempted
by the thought of taking on a
not fully wound-up Denman in
receipt of plenty of weight in the
Hennessy – there is every chance
the Hennessy could be a classic
renewal this year.
The other 33-1 shots are Our
Vic who will be aimed at the
Ryanair Chase, Exotic Dancer,
My Way De Solzen who seemed
to lose the plot last term,
Mossbank who could also be
aimed at the Ryanair Chase, and
Grand National winner Comply
Or Die who is another set to kick
off his campaign in Newbury’s
Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup.
Of this quintet, Exotic Dancer
would be the most interesting if
bouncing back to his best, but
he didn’t run up to form in last
season’s Gold Cup or behind Our
Vic and Kauto Star at Aintree. The
application of blinkers, or some
sort of headgear, could bring
about a change in fortunes.
Of the remainder of those
quoted Snowy Morning (40-1)
is arguably the pick. The Grand
National third went on to finish
second to Neptune Collonges at
Punchestown and finally began to
get his jumping together towards
the end of the season. He could
well be the leading Irish hope for
the Gold Cup in March.
One final horse to note is
the fragile, but hugely talented
Money Trix. Nicky Richards’
grey won his only chase start
at Newcastle last season, when
returning from a long lay-off, and
Richards confirmed to me during
the summer that everything was
well with his lightly-raced eightyear-old.
A soft ground specialist, he is
likely to start off in a graduation
chase up north. The handicappers
assessment will then determine
whether connections opt to
head down the handicap route,
or whether they are forced in to
open company, but his trainer
holds him in the highest regard
and, given his fragile limbs, if he
is fit come March he could well be
allowed to take his chance in the
Gold Cup.
He isn’t even quoted by any
bookmakers, but be sure to keep
an eye on him when he returns
in the coming weeks.
Conclusion
Denman is going to be very
hard to beat if remaining fully
fit, but he makes little antepost
appeal at odds around the
Evens.
Of the bigger priced horses,
Snowy Morning would appeal as
the one most likely to shorten
during the months ahead.
Round-Up and October’s Advice:
The two hurdle races look
more wide open than the
chases at this stage and, while
the bookmakers seem to have
World Hurdle market sorted
(with the most likely successors
to Inglis Drever towards the
head of the betting), there is an
interesting sort at a big price in
the Champion Hurdle market.
That horse is RIPPLING RING
who is worth a small each-way
interest at 40-1. He clearly has a
fair bit to find, but he is a much
bigger price than the bunch of
juveniles who have to follow
Katchit in overcoming the age
stat, and should he go and win a
race like the Greatwood Hurdle
he would shorten considerably.
With Master Minded and
Denman short, but both looking
rock-solid, you have to decide
whether there is any each-way
value in the Queen Mother and
Gold Cup markets. With the lack
of strength in depth in the 2m
chase division, the Champion
Chase appeals more from an
each-way point of view.
The horse that stands out is
another Paul Nicholls’ inmate,
TAKEROC, who could well be
the main danger to stablemate
Master Minded. Backing him at
16-1 now means we’ll have him
at 4-1 for a place and I wouldn’t
be at all surprised if he were
around 4-1 to win the race in
five months time.
RIPPLING RING
Champion Hurdle
Half-point e-way at 40-1 (Stan
James, Bet Direct, Sporting)
TAKEROC
Queen Mother Champion Chase
Half-point e-way at 16-1 (Stan
James, Bet Direct, Tote, Boyles)
Racing Ahead 31