The £75,000 Ladbroke Hurdle at Leopardstown dominates the actual racing headlines today, and Regency Rake looks a decent each-way bet to monopolise those headlines afterwards.
Arthur Moore has far and away the most impressive record in this race, and while Regency Rake may not have the obvious claims that Graphic Equaliser had last year, his chance should not be underestimated.
Having said that, very few of the 25 runners can be dismissed outright. The big field, coupled with ground so testing that racing was in doubt up to Thursday, will make this a major test of determination and that great imponderable, luck.
Since the entries were released, both punters and bookmakers have agreed that Advocat will be the luckiest of all. Noel Meade's charge has never been threatened for favouritism in the ante-post market, but while Advocat won easily last time out, even his greatest fan could not call him lucky.
A close fifth in the Ladbroke 12 months ago, Advocat was forced into a wide passage through the race and did well to finish as close as he did. He was also fifth in the Tote Gold Trophy, second in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham and also runner-up to Bellator at Aintree.
A thoroughly consistent type, Advocat is nevertheless pretty exposed handicap-wise.
Impulsive Dream is many shrewd punters idea of the winner, judged principally on his second to the impressive Limestone Lad over the course and distance at Christmas. The in-form Norman Williamson is a significant presence in his saddle; while Charlie Swan will be hoping for a first Ladbroke success on the lighweight Vivo.
Horses who should also be examined are Black Queen, runner-up to Master Tribe in 1997 and a mare who is sure to act on the ground; while Gan Saru and Fishin' Joella cannot be dismissed either.
Philip Hobbs, who won the Galway Plate with Amlah, looks to have the best of the three British challengers in Sadler's Realm, one of his two runners in the race. But it's Moore, another with a pair of horses involved, who can provide the answer yet again to this puzzle. Conor O'Dwyer has plumped for Regency Rake over Penny Native, and despite his choice not having raced over flights since the Galway Hurdle, it's easy to understand. Regency Rake is a tough operator who acts on the heavy and, significantly, has proved on the flat that he can accelerate off a fast pace.
Regency Rake has had a good break since November, races off a decent weight and with this race having been the plan for him for some time, he represents decent value at generally available odds of 20 to 1.
Forecast
1. Regency Rake
2. Impulsive Dream
3. Gan Saru
4. Fishin' Joella
