RACING/ST STEPHEN'S DAY PREVIEW:IT'S A regular Christmas racing refrain that the juvenile hurdlers don't look up to much, a theory often discredited later in the season. But Pur Style could be the "left-field" option going into Leopardstown's Grade Two highlight on St Stephen's Day.
A field of eight line up for the United Arab Emirates Embassy Juvenile Hurdle including the accomplished Sam Bass who landed a Grade Three at Fairyhouse earlier this month.
That looked the best performance so far this season among the three-year-olds but admirable as it was, Noel Meade’s charge still looked to be all out to beat His Excellency who looked less than a straight-forward customer in the closing stages.
Both are back for another crack at each other and the race also includes One Cool Shabra who represents the colourful Co Monaghan trainer and businessman, Oliver Brady.
Dermot Weld pitches two into the race including an intriguing newcomer in Celebrity Sevi, a horse that won a good flat handicap at Dundalk off a mark of 100 and has been purchased by the JP McManus team since.
If he’s all about potential though, then the one filly in the race brings a very different unknown factor to proceedings.
Pur Style is having her first start for Edward O’Grady, winner of this race last year with Sailor’s Warn, but won’t lack for experience having had eight starts over jumps in her native France including two over fences.
She is already a Listed winner at Auteuil in June and having slogged around that track and Enghein, soft ground will not be an issue for her.
Andrew Lynch takes the ride and while Pur Style represents something of a leap in the dark, fillies won this in back-to-back years with Lounaos and Clear Riposte (2005-06) and she could expose any limitations among the “home” team.
There is €25,000 in prize-money up for grabs in the handicap chase and that could be good news for some well-known political names who own Donnas Palm under the Grand Alliance Racing Club banner.
Noel Meade’s star grey is having just a third career start over fences having scored on his Wexford debut and then disappointed slightly at Punchestown behind Last Instalment. The decision to drop him into handicap class so soon looks significant and for a horse that was rated 161 over hurdles after finishing runner-up in an Irish Champion Hurdle, a 133 mark over fences doesn’t look too imposing.
Champion trainer Willie Mullins will be fancied to get the festival off to a flier in both the maiden hurdles.
Midnight Game certainly looks one to side with as the son of Montjeu was very unlucky on his Irish debut and then was pitched straight into Grade One company behind his stable companion Sous Les Cieux in the Royal Bond. However, he wasn’t beaten out of that sight in that elite company and it should be third time lucky in Ireland for the Gigginstown hope.
Marasonnien goes for Mullins in the opener but it’s hard to ignore how he failed to win in five starts in his native France. Mullins’s record at improving horses is incredible but maybe the bumper winner Touch Back represents better value.
Ferry Point ran into a good one in Bay Of Kotor at Fairyhouse recently and the form has been boosted since. He should make his presence felt in the handicap hurdle. Bog Warrior’s trainer Tony Martin will be hoping for a big St Stephen’s Day as he runs Sughera, a Tramore maiden winner in October, in this race under Davy Russell.
The bumper, though, looks trappy with Willie Mullins bringing a point-to-point winner in Champagne Fever and a number of others representing smart form. Slightly better ground, though, could be critical to Bright New Dawn who chased home Venture Captial at Punchestown.
