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Cheltenham betting 2010: Leopardstown preview night
Johnny Ward / 02 March 2010 Free Bet View Market
All the panel agreed that Dunguib was the 'banker' of the festival.
"Nobody was willing to oppose Dunguib, with Ward saying he was a “1-4 shot” and Chapman a 1-2 chance."
Venue: Leopardstown Racecourse.
Date: Sunday, February 28.
Panel: Gary O'Brien (At The Races, MC), Matt Chapman (At The Races), John Hackett (Hackett Bookmakers), Christian Williams, Davy Russell, Tony Mullins, Kevin O'Ryan, Johnny Ward (Sunday Independent).
Highlights: Davy Russell was wound up by an inebriated member of the at-times rowdy audience about Mouse Morris' bizarre stance on War Of Attrition's Aintree Grand National weight. Russell acknowledged the validity of the man's argument, albeit one rendered redundant by the ignorance of his manner. According to Chapman, Morris is letting his own pride prevent 'The War' running in the Grand National.
In the main, the panel agreed that Denman was not a Gold Cup contender, Kevin O'Ryan and Johnny Ward particularly vehement; Matt Chapman was the only one to really give him a live chance.
Mullins recalled how lame Cooldine was just three hours before his RSA Chase rout last year and believes that the son of Beneficial - who jumped well after racing on Sunday - is not without a chance.
Christian Williams contends that Denman is simply not the horse he was and the laconic Welshman was also somewhat pessimistic about how much of a 'good thing' Master Minded is in the Champion Chase.
Williams was very keen to emphasise the claims of Kalahari King, who - the jockey argues - will have come on a great deal from his seasonal bow. Russell was very much in agreement, consistently stressing how shrewd Ferdy Murphy is. Russell says that Master Minded beat little the last day and again questioned Chapman's contention that the two-time Queen Mother winner looked to be back to his best last month.
Nobody was willing to oppose Dunguib, with Ward saying he was a "1-4 shot" and Chapman a 1-2 chance. Russell was perhaps the least convinced. "If he did run him in the Champion Hurdle, as you think he should Matt, he'd finish about eighth," insisted the Youghal man, to bemusement in the audience - though he was serious, apparently.
Russell then outlined how novices never run in the Champion Hurdle, a point corrected by his colleagues, though Ward said that memories of Rhinestone Cowboy advertise Philip Fenton's decision to stay away from the champion race this year.
The Champion Hurdle prompted very interesting debate. Russell - who usually plays down his own equine allies - was not altogether bullish about Solwhit (which is now 5.7 on Betfair). He greatly fears Go Native, who Chapman considers to be a typically quirky Noel Meade-trained hurdler. Ward strongly fancies Solwhit, while John Hackett was keen not to rule out Celestial Halo, which preceded some perplexed looks on the faces of those others at the top table.
Kevin O'Ryan believes that Rite Of Passage should win the Neptune Novices' Hurdle, but Mullins believes that he is a better horse on the flat. Chapman was not convinced by the gelding's claims, with O'Brien quipping that Dermot Weld was one of no less than three men Chapman frequently calls "the master trainer".
Biggest laugh: A few contenders. Tony Mullins claimed that he only called Cousin Vinny "the new Istabraq" at the same preview gathering 12 months ago "because his owners were in the crowd". Matt Chapman and Russell seemed intent on trading snipes, Chapman responding to one remark by Russell by recalling a conversation he had with Darryll Holland. "The worst thing a jockey can do is think for himself," according to Chappers.
Charity Bets/Naps: Russell is very keen on Tavern Times in the bumper if he runs and he will ride the gelding, owned partly by his father. Chapman thinks Dunguib, Master Minded and Big Buck's are all certainties. Mullins thinks Kauto Star will "win by about a furlong," while Hackett said he would be willing enough to take Dunguib on. Williams really likes Kalahari King, Ward tipped Solwhit as his nap of the meeting, while O'Ryan is very keen about Rite Of Passage.
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