SHAMROCK’S GUIDE TO THE HATTON’S GRACE: Shamrock, who landed his nap yesterday with Lively Baron (WON 1-3), takes you through the seven five-day declared for Sunday’s Hatton’s Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse.
Final Approach One of four Willie Mullins acceptors, the lowest rated of them all and bottom of the pile in this race at the weights.
Did the double of MCR Hurdle (January) and Cheltenham County Hurdle (March) but raced only in Auteuil since, fifth of 10 to stablemate Thousand Stars last time out.
Mikael D’Haguenet Mullins again. Six-wins-in-a-row champion novice hurdler, including taking the Ballymore at Cheltenham in 2009, and then the Punchestown Champion Novice six weeks later, but fell apart over fences.
He returned to hurdling well in rear of Quevega in the World Hurdle Series at Punchestown but ran better on his seasonal reappearance, third to Voler La Vedette in the Lismullen Hurdle at Navan recently.
Mourad Mullins third runner had a long career as a nearly horse: third in the Triumph Hurdle, second in the Ballymore Champion at Punchestown (2009), second in the Boyne, third in the Punchestown World Hurdle, fourth in this Hatton’s Grace in 2010.
But he finally came good over longer trips, winning the Christmas Hurdle and the Galmoy this year, only to find his measure taken again by Big Buck’s, Quevega and Thousand Stars in successive tests at Cheltenham, Punchestown and Auteuil.
The Real Article His Group-2 double at Tipperary and Down Royal doesn’t look good enough and he comes out bottom of the heap here at the weights.
Thousand Stars Willie Mullins’ born-again ace. Failed to make it in Grade 1 after winning the 2010 County Hurdle, beaten in four races out of five by Hurricane Fly, two of them the Cheltenham and Punchestown Champion Hurdles.
But he was steadily improving his rating and came good big time when taking the Auteuil title in June (26 furlongs) and confirming his new-found status at the top when slamming Oscars Well at Punchestown, despite dropping back to the minimum 2m
Voler La Vedette Third to Quevega in the Mares Hurdle (2010) at Cheltenham has won four times since but, in fact, has slipped down the ratings this year and was further behind Quevega (Mourad second) in the Punchestown World Hurdle Series.
Unaccompanied Up to 12lb behind the rest but this year’s Triumph Hurdle runner-up gets 11lb from the seniors and is unexposed at the trip.
SHAMROCK’S BETS
NAP: Gullinbursti (1.50 Hereford)
NEXT BEST: Accordingtoeileen (2.10 Uttoxeter)
DAQ TRIO: Gullinbursti (1.50 Hereford), Accordingtoeileen (2.10 Uttoxeter), Midnight Oscar (3.50 Hereford)
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