The Irish challenge for the World Hurdle at Cheltenham is mounting steadily and Alpha Des Obeaux promises to be a worthy addition to the squad after a convincing success in yesterday's Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran Park.
Alpha Des Obeaux had finished second in three consecutive Grade One events before yesterday’s Grade Two contest, and also fell when alongside Thistlecrack, the eventual winner, in last season’s Sefton Novice Hurdle at Aintree.
Second tier
Thistlecrack has made rapid progress this season and is the clear favourite for the World Hurdle at 9-4.
Butt Alpha Des Obeaux is now among the second tier of contenders in the ante-post betting at a top price of 10-1.
Martello Tower set a steady pace through the first two miles of yesterday's race, but made a bad mistake at the fourth-last flight and was joined by Alpha Des Obeaux and Bryan Cooper at the next. Cooper then eased clear on the 13-8 favourite after turning into the straight, and sealed an 11-length success with a quick jump at the last.
“I made quite a bad mistake at the third-last and he was down on his head a bit,” Cooper said, “but he came on the bridle going down the hill and what he did off the bridle was good because it’s tough work on that ground. He was upsides Thistlecrack when he fell at Aintree, and he’s the favourite [for the World Hurdle]. He’s going into it under the radar a bit and if he can be placed or win it would be great, but next year, he’s a real chaser in the making.”
“In fairness to him, he has been beaten by good horses and at least he wasn’t second today,” said trainer Mouse Morris. “I’ll discuss things [with Michael O’Leary, his owner] and while he hasn’t had a lot of racing, I imagine he’ll go straight to Cheltenham now. He showed at Liverpool that he is much better on good ground.”
Thistlecrack and Alpha Des Obeaux were among 48 possible contenders for the World Hurdle when the initial entries were published yesterday.
The most intriguing name on the list, however, is Silviniaco Conti, the winner of the King George VI Chase in 2013 and 2014 and the 3-1 favourite when seventh in last year’s Gold Cup. Paul Nicholls’s 10-year-old has not raced since being pulled up behind Cue Card in the King George at Kempton last month.
One better
My Murphy, the runner-up behind the current Gold Cup favourite Djakadam in last year’s Thyestes Chase, went one better in the latest renewal as he beat Mala Beach, the favourite, by one-and-a-quarter lengths.
My Murphy is seen as being "not fast enough for Cheltenham" by trainer Liam Burke, and is likely to target the Irish Grand National on March 28th.
Footpad, the beaten favourite for a Grade Two juvenile hurdle at Leopardstown on St Stephen’s Day, returned to winning form at odds of 1-10 in the Gowran card opener.
"He did what he had to do and jumped a little sharper than at Leopardstown," said trainer Willie Mullins. "He'll run next in the Grade One at Leopardstown [the Spring Juvenile Hurdle on 6 February].
“He didn’t race properly [on St Stephen’s Day] but I definitely think he is still a Triumph Hurdle horse.” Guardian Service
