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Patrick McCann
“title =” Abacadabras (left): rematch with Saint Roi (white cap, right) and Coeur Sublime (second from left) “class =” js-imageLoader “data-at-xn =” https: //www.rp -assets .com / images / news / 2020/11/15/84897-medium.jpeg “data-br-n =” https://www.rp-assets.com/images/news/2020/11/15/ 84897- medium.jpeg “data-br-m =” https://www.rp-assets.com/images/news/2020/11/15/84897-large.jpeg “data-br-w =” https: // www.rp-assets.com/images/news/2020/11/15/84897-large.jpeg “data-br-xw =” https://www.rp-assets.com/images/news/2020 / 11 /15/84897-large.jpeg “onclick =” return false; “>
By Mark Boylan
2.25 Leopardstown
Matheson Hurdle (Grade 1) | 2m | 4yo + | RTE2 / ITV4 / RTV
The Morgiana Hurdle somehow left us with more questions than answers, but this holiday gift should help establish the two-mile pecking order in Ireland.
Supreme Novices’ Hurdle’s second Abacadabra scored a second Grade 1 in that Punchestown award six weeks ago, but the seemingly unfortunate Saint Roi, who was struck just one neck after leaving at the end of the day, seemed to get attention after the career.
However, Abacadabras didn’t have everything going for him either. Gordon Elliott-trained winner’s jump was not always entirely convincing and a stronger run where he can arrive on the scene later is surely more fitting than the tactical test he encountered last time out.
Saint Roi has always been highly respected by the Willie Mullins camp and looked like a contender to the budding Hurdle Champion when he posted a 137 mark at the County Hurdle in Cheltenham, where he outpointed the next winner and Galway Hurdle stablemate. Aramon.
After coming home on his season bow at Tipperary, he promoted to a senior company in Punchestown and will surely improve for the race.
With Epatante having erased his copybook at Kempton on Saturday, the door is open for one of these contenders to identify himself as a genuine threat to last year’s Champion Hurdle heroine. Saint Roi is priced high at 11-2 with SkyBet for Cheltenham and Abacadabras is a 6-1 overall.
John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)
“title =” Saint Roi: a high-priced 11-2 for the Unibet obstacle course champion “class =” js-imageLoader “data-at-xn =” https://www.rp-assets.com/images/ news / 2020/11/10/84682-medium.jpeg “data-br-n =” https://www.rp-assets.com/images/news/2020/11/10/84682-medium.jpeg “data -br -m = “https://www.rp-assets.com/images/news/2020/11/10/84682-large.jpeg” data-br-w = “https: //www.rp-assets .com /images/news/2020/11/10/84682-large.jpeg “data-br-xw =” https://www.rp-assets.com/images/news/2020/11/10/84682- large. jpeg “onclick =” return false; “>
The long-awaited rematch may overshadow the fact that Sharjah is looking for its third win in a row in this race, and Patrick Mullins’ mount is not a number back, now he’s back on his favorite ground.
This will be the seven-year-old’s fourth consecutive Christmas appearance in Leopardstown, but the first without prior preparation. However, that doesn’t matter due to the nature of his summer campaign, according to Mullins, who also sends the talented but possibly fragile Saldier, who is undoubtedly capable of mixing him at the highest level in obstacles.
Aspire Tower had the measure of Abacadabras when they met at Down Royal in October, while Coeur Sublime traded just 1.69 in the race when it made a sweeping move on Morgiana before finishing fourth and is expected to progress fairly and hit the scene. . later.
Patrick McCann
“title =” Aspire Tower: beat Abacadabras in the WKD Hurdle at Down Royal “class =” js-imageLoader “data-at-xn =” https://www.rp-assets.com/images/news/ 2020 / 10/30/84259-medium.jpeg “data-br-n =” https://www.rp-assets.com/images/news/2020/10/30/84259-medium.jpeg “data-br -m = “https://www.rp-assets.com/images/news/2020/10/30/84259-large.jpeg” data-br-w = “https://www.rp-assets.com / images /news/2020/10/30/84259-large.jpeg “data-br-xw =” https://www.rp-assets.com/images/news/2020/10/30/84259-large. jpeg “onclick =” return false; “>
Beacon Edge, trained by Noel Meade, handled the move to Grade 1 open company well when he was third behind Honeysuckle at Hatton’s Grace Hurdle, but could be more effective on a longer ride.
The eight-person field is rounded out by Petit Mouchoir, making his debut with Gordon Elliott. Two of his three hurdle victories have come in Grade 1 at Leopardstown.
No one has a better record at Matheson Hurdle than Willie Mullins. The champion coach is trying to score eight wins with one of his three teams this year and hopes that Morgiana Hurdle’s form can be reversed with a different tactical approach.
“We need to have our tactics better than last time with Saint Roi,” he said. “We didn’t get it right, but hopefully we’ll do better and get it right with him this time.”
Saldier is making his first start in just over 58 weeks and is scheduled to be associated by Paul Townend. Mullins said: “This is a tough place for him to start back for his first race of the season in a Grade 1, but I need him to get back on track.”
Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)
“title =” Saldier: making his first start since winning last year’s Morgiana Hurdle “class =” js-imageLoader “data-at-xn =” https://www.rp-assets.com/images/news/ 2019/11 /20/71756-medium.jpeg “data-br-n =” https://www.rp-assets.com/images/news/2019/11/20/71756-medium.jpeg “data-br -m = “https://www.rp-assets.com/images/news/2019/11/20/71756-large.jpeg” data-br-w = “https://www.rp-assets.com / images / news / 2019/11/20/71756-large.jpeg “data-br-xw =” https://www.rp-assets.com/images/news/2019/11/20/71756-large. jpeg “onclick =” return false; “>
Saldier: making his first outing since winning the Morgiana Hurdle last year
Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)
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