Timeform Irish SmartPlays: Paris to prove Elusive at Dundalk

Tipping / Timeform / 17 February 2012 / Leave a Comment

Joseph O'Brien can land the 19:55 on Elusive In Paris

"[Elusive In Paris] has actually been dropped a pound since then and remains unexposed on polytrack."

Timeform's Irish team have picked out three more SmartPlays for this evening's action at Dundalk....

Elusive In Paris showed significant improvement in two starts on this surface in October, winning a nursery at this trip and then just found out by the drop back to six furlongs when a close third on his next start. He has actually been dropped a pound since then and remains unexposed on polytrack. The handful of runners Michael Grassick has had here since the turn of the year have all gone well and the booking of Joseph O'Brien suggests that Elusive In Paris is ready to do himself justice after a break.

The dundalkstadium.com handicap at 20:25 is a very trappy race with just six pounds separating the ten runners on Timeform ratings. It is possible to make a case for just about everything but at the prices it may pay to take a chance on Mountain Coral putting his best foot forward. Admittedly, Mountain Coral hasn't been the easiest to catch right in recent times but he has four C&D successes to his name and his last two runs are best ignored as he didn't enjoy much luck in running. He does need things to go his way but a wide draw should help on that score and he is just the type that Johnny Murtagh excels on. Mountain Coral is on a fair mark and it will be disappointing if he isn't there or thereabouts.

Johnnys Legacy was all out to open his account at the fifteenth attempt in a moderate maiden here last week and looks worth opposing in his bid to follow up. He didn't need to be at his best to win that race but is still twelve pounds higher than when last seen in a handicap. He has had plenty of chances from lower marks than this and is vulnerable off top weight.

Timeform Irish SmartPlays
Back Elusive In Paris in the 19:55
Back Mountain Coral win and place in the 20:25
Lay Johnny's Legacy in the 20:55

After two successful SmartPlays yesterday, Timeform's US team is feeling confident ahead of three win selections this evening......

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Supreme Novices' Hurdle: Freedom bypasses Dundalk run

News / Timeform / 16 February 2012 / Leave a Comment

Steps To Freedom will head straight to Cheltenham.

Jessica Harrington has decided against running Steps To Freedom at Dundalk on Friday and he will now head straight to next month's Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham...

The six-year-old completed a hat-trick of victories over timber at Prestbury Park in November and he is now towards the head of the market for the Festival curtain-raiser.

Harrington had suggested her charge would make an appearance on the all-weather this week, but she has had a change of heart.

The trainer said: "Everything is fine and we've just decided that we'll go straight to Cheltenham.

"We just thought about it and thought we'd go straight there."

Steps To Freedom, rated 144p by Timeform, currently trades at [11.0] for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle.

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Supreme Novices' Hurdle: Dundalk still on Steps agenda

News / Timeform / 08 February 2012 / Leave a Comment

Jessica Harrington: Trainer of Steps To Freedom and Oscars Well.

"He'll run in Dundalk on Friday week in a mile-and-a-half race and he then may go to Leopardstown for a gallop after racing on March 4..."

Current Supreme Novices' Hurdle favourite Steps To Freedom remains on course to have a run on the Flat at Dundalk on Friday February 17...

Unbeaten in three starts over hurdles, Jessica Harrington's six-year-old has plenty going for him with the Festival in mind, not least that he is already a Cheltenham winner having struck there in November.

Harrington has given her exciting youngster, rated 144p by Timeform, a winter break since but he will soon be back in competitive action.

"He did a breeze on Friday and worked yesterday (Tuesday) and I'm very happy with him," the trainer told At The Races.

"He'll run in Dundalk on Friday week in a mile-and-a-half race and he then may go to Leopardstown for a gallop after racing on March 4. It depends how he comes out of the race in Dundalk.

"He was out in the field for six weeks and then we brought him back in and we've just been building him back up. He seems to be fresh and well.

"The great thing was we got him to Cheltenham in November and he travelled over well and he's got experience of the course now. So when he goes back there in March, he'll know where he is."

Steps To Freedom is currently trading as the [10.5] favourite for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle.

Another major Festival hope for Harrington is Oscars Well, who bears a Timeform rating of 164, and would have gone very close to winning last season's Neptune Novices' Hurdle but for stumbling at the final flight.

His latest run behind Hurricane Fly in the Irish Champion Hurdle was his best of the season and Harrington is hopeful her charge can get closer to the reigning champion granted better ground for the Champion Hurdle itself.

"He stepped up again and he's been improving all winter," Harrington added.

"He has a high cruising speed and I'm not saying he'll ever beat Hurricane Fly, but as I've said to the owners, with some reasonable luck we'll run into a place in the Champion Hurdle.

"I think he ticks all the boxes as he likes good ground, he seems to like Cheltenham and he loves races that are run at a fast pace.

"Hurricane Fly is a very good horse. He's probably one of the best hurdlers we've seen since Istabraq, if not better.

"He's won 10 Grade Ones now and that's an amazing record."

Oscars Well can presently be backed at [18.5] for the Champion Hurdle, with Hurricane Fly heading the market at [1.96].

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