Timeform Irish Daily: Leinster National, Sunday, Naas 16:20

Ireland / Timeform / 10 March 2012 / Leave a Comment

Who will win the Leinster National?

"Roi du Mee looks feasibly treated back in a handicap following his sound effort in a Grade 2 at Fairyhouse."

Timeform look at the contenders for the three-mile Leinster National Handicap Chase at Naas...

Roberto Goldback won listed chase at Cork last spring and been tackling strong company since, solid effort with blinkers on when second in the Irish Hennessy last time. Vulnerable back in a handicap, though.

Roi du Mee made all in a 3-runner Grade 3 at Punchestown (23f) in October and twice placed in Grade 2s since, beaten just over 6 lengths when third to Prince de Beauchene at Fairyhouse (25f) latest. Respected.

Rare Bob is a capable chaser - successful in a valuable 21f Leopardstown handicap (blinkered) last term - and highly tried for the most part since. Looks held by Roi du Mee whom he was behind at Fairyhouse latest.

Hughies Grey improved for step up in trip when winning Ulster National at Downpatrick and Grade 2 at Navan (subsequently disqualified) last term. Well below par so far this season, however.

Arabella Boy belatedly broke his duck in 2¾m maiden chase at Fairyhouse in 2010/11. Doesn't seem to have returned in the same sort of form, though, albeit hitherto been racing over inadequate trips this term.

River Liane is a French recruit who was highly promising earlier in his career. However, lightly raced and generally struggled since making a winning chase debut over 2m here in 2009/10. Jumping often lacks fluency.

Beroni improved during 2009/10 (for Willie Mullins), scoring 3 times, but shown nothing in 2 starts since returning from lengthy absence (both over hurdles). Plenty to prove at present.

Tullintain is a smooth traveller who has finished runner-up the last twice, chasing home Seabass at Limerick (2½m) and On His Own in valuable event at Gowran (3m) latest. Now 20 lb above last winning mark, however.

Tinakellylad is a mudlark who ran as well as he's ever done when narrowly foiled by Jack Absolute at Cork (2½m) early in January. No impact 2 starts since, though, and his inconsistency tempers enthusiasm.

Smoking Acesis a thorough stayer who responded well to blinkers when beating Portrait King a length at Fairyhouse (29f) in December. Made mistakes when respectable sixth of 17 to that rival at Punchestown latest.

Paddy Pub is none too consistent and was behind a couple of these in a valuable handicap chase at Gowran in January. Scored over hurdles (blinkers omitted) here since but not so well treated in this sphere.

Lurgan is a prominently-ridden sort who landed a 3m maiden chase at Thurles over 2 years ago but largely struggled in handicaps since. Faces a stiff task from 8 lb out of the handicap here.

Timeform 1-2-3
1. Roi du Mee
2. Smoking Aces
3. Tullintain

Timeform View: Roi du Mee looks feasibly treated back in a handicap following his sound effort in a Grade 2 at Fairyhouse. This slightly shorter trip will be in his favour and he earns the nod ahead of Smoking Aces and Tullintain.
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BOD snubs Royal Wedding to make Leinster kings of Europe

Heineken Cup / Ralph Ellis / 26 April 2011 / Leave a Comment

O'Driscoll in action in Leinster's quarter-final win

"O’Driscoll is still hurting from losing to Toulouse in last year’s semi-final... "

Brian O'Driscoll won't be attending Westminster Abbey this Friday because he's got more important things to do: preparing for Leinster's Heineken Cup clash with Toulouse. Ralph Ellis salutes the Ireland captain's commitment.

It's the week we are all chasing the golden ticket. If you are filling out your Olympics application (it's the last chance today), then it's the athletics on Sunday August 5. That's the session with the mens' 100metres final where the category AA ones will set you back £1,450 a pair.

If you are a fan of either Stoke or Manchester City you are trying to scrape together the cash for a pass to the FA Cup final, and checking you've enough vouchers as well as a couple of hundred quid to pay for them. And of course United fans are crossing their fingers for their own journey to Wembley for a Champions League final, even if the prices will make an outing to London cost as much as the trip to Moscow a couple of years back.

Arguably the hottest ticket of the lot is the one you can't pay for: the Royal Wedding. There's no better way to show you belong among the elite. The Beckhams will be there, of course; and Sir Elton John, Guy Ritchie and Joss Stone. Even the Queen is going, I'm told!

Would anybody turn down that invite? Well, yes, actually. And that's where we come in because if you needed any convincing that it's safe to take the [1.5] for Leinster to beat Toulouse in Saturday's Heineken Cup semi-final it comes with the news that Brian O'Driscoll has turned down his invite to Westminster Abbey.

The veteran Ireland and British Lions star has given a great interview to the Guardian's Tom Jenkins today in which he reveals that his actress wife Amy Huberman will be off to London without him. "I have a captain's run on Friday and as big an honour as it was to be invited, I can't ask for team runs to be at half-six in the evening so I can go. The team ethos comes first. Amy's going as we felt there was an element of representing Ireland. I'll be at home preparing."

O'Driscoll is still hurting from losing to Toulouse in last year's semi-final because at 32 he fears losing far more than he enjoys winning. A similar instinct keeps Ryan Giggs rolling at Manchester United. O'Driscoll has lost four of five European semi-finals in his career so while youngsters like powerful prop Cian Healy have no fear of big occasions, he is only too aware that another chance might not come.

He knows this is too big an opportunity to mess up. Leinster just don't lose in Dublin. It has happened only once since Christmas 2009 and the driving force of 40,000 home fans in the Aviva Stadium should make sure it doesn't happen again.

Then, of course, there will be another golden ticket to be sought - for the final in the Millenium Stadium on May 21.

Five things you might not know about Cian Healy

1. Born October 1987 in Clontarf, Dublin, his dad Paul had been a keen rugby player who won the Leinster Schools Cup as a youngster

2. He started playing rugby aged seven, but as he grew was more outstanding at schools athletics. He was all Ireland intermediate javelin champion and won the senior shot putt and discus titles two years in a row.

3. He started a degree course at Dublin City University in physical education and biology

4. He has a passion for music and performed as the opening act in the dance arena at Ireland's biggest music festival, Oxegen, last year under the name of DJ Church

5. He's also into art, and always takes paints, a canvas and easel with him on away trips.

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