/ Timeform / 04 February 2011 / Leave a Comment 
Willie Mullins: Has chances in three of the four Grade 1s at Leopardstown
"The defection of Pandorama means that the result of the Hennessy itself is unlikely to have much of an impact on the current Gold Cup market, but the absence of Noel Meade’s stable star has made this contest much more interesting from a betting point of view. "
The Irish Hennessy meeting at Leopardstown is the last stepping stone before the Cheltenham Festival for many leading ante-post fancies from across the Irish Sea and the four Grade 1 events on the card all promise to be high-class renewals.
The defection of Pandorama means that the result of the Hennessy itself is unlikely to have much of an impact on the current Gold Cup market, but the absence of Noel Meade's stable star has made this contest much more interesting from a betting point of view.
Unexposed British raider Pride of Dulcote is the one that has the potential to shake up the Gold Cup betting the most, with many people seeing Paul Nicholls' progressive second-season chaser as a dark horse for the Blue Riband event in March. However, the form of his narrow win over Punchestowns in a graduation chase at Newbury in December took a knock when that rival disappointed at Cheltenham last weekend and he looks to represent little value at current odds given the amount he needs to find with the likes of Joncol and Money Trix.
Last year's winner Joncol bounced right back to his high-class best when third to Pandorama in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas and he filled the same place in that race last season before getting the better of Cooldine in a tight finish in this corresponding event. Paul Nolan's runners weren't in much form before the turn of the year, and it wouldn't come as a great surprise to see Joncol turn around form with the runner-up Money Trix and follow up last year's win.
The Deloitte Hurdle promises to be the best novice run in Ireland this season and it will feature the return to action of Zaidpour. Prominent in the market for both the Supreme and Neptune Novice hurdles at the Festival, the useful Flat recruit will be looking to regain the winning habit after being turned over at short odds here over Christmas.
Zaidpour may not have been able to maintain his unbeaten record over hurdles, but he did still shape as if the best horse in the race, staying on strongly when eventually asked for maximum effort after the last and beaten only a neck by First Lieutenant. Willie Mullins' representative remains an exciting prospect and should be given another chance to build on the excellent impression he made when running out a facile winner of the Royal Bond at Fairyhouse earlier in the season.
Hidden Universe made up for disappointing in the Champion Bumper at the Festival by going on to win each of his two subsequent starts last season, including a Grade 1 event at Punchestown in April, and made a really encouraging start over hurdles when running out a very easy winner of a maiden at this track over Christmas. The level of form he achieved in bumpers suggests he could prove the biggest threat to Zaidpour.
Willie Mullins is also responsible for the market leader in the DR P .J. Moriarty Novice Chase with Mikael d'Haguenet. Mikael d'Haguenet looked a top-notch prospect over hurdles in 2008/9 before he missed last season through injury, and looked set to beat Jessies Dream before falling at the last in the Drinmore Chase at Fairyhouse in December. He was sent off a hot favourite at Leopardstown next time, but, perhaps understandably given the absence that preceded it, seemed not to be over his Fairyhouse exertions fifteen days previously. He's been given a break since, but still doesn't look a solid betting proposition for the time being, especially at odds-on.
The other that deserves a mention is the Dessie Hughes-trained Magnanimity. Last seen when lowering the colours of Jessies Dream in the Grade 2 Killiney Novice Chase at Leopardstown, Magnanimity benefitted from a sound tactical ride that day and showed a really likeable attitude to repel the challenge of Gordon Elliott's charge close home. Magnanimity remains open to improvement over fences, but this drop back in trip is unlikely to play to his strengths and he will be of more interest
All the betting moves ahead of the evening racing at Wolverhampton...
Timeform look over the weekend's action......
The Irish Hennessy meeting at Leopardstown is the last stepping stone before the Cheltenham Festival for many leading ante-post fancies from across the Irish Sea and the four Grade 1 events on the card all promise to be high-class renewals....
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