Kemboy might be capable of completing back-to-back wins in today’s Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup in Leopardstown.
The Willie Mullins-trained ten-year-old is a four-time Grade 1 winner. And two of those top-level successes have come at Leopardstown, a defeat of Monalee in the 2018 ‘Savills’ and his gutsy victory over Thestoryteller, Delta Work and Minella Indo in this event twelve months ago.
Kemboy has never produced his best at Cheltenham. But his impressive Betway Bowl win at Aintree in 2019 and his memorable victory over stable-companion and Gold Cup winner Al Boum Photo in the Punchestown Gold Cup a few weeks later ,are rock-solid pieces of form.
Admittedly, they were a long time ago. And Kemboy has disappointed quite a few times since.
But he ran a cracker in the ‘Savills’ here at Christmas, making most of the running and staying on dourly to be beaten less than a length behind Galvin and A Plus Tard, market-leaders for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, in the ‘Savills’ here at Christmas.
Kemboy is at his best on goodish ground and around Leopardstown. And another huge run is anticipated.
Tactics will be intriguing as the field also includes Frodon, a proven front-runner, representing Paul Nicholls, who has won the race as both jockey and trainer.
Nicholls triumphed with his three runners in Ireland in 2021, including Frodon, who outpointed Galvin and Minella Indo in the Ladbrokes Champion Chase at Down Royal.
Along with Minella Indo, he went too fast in the ‘King George’ last time, when he finished a well-beaten fourth behind Tornado Flyer, with ‘Indo’, ultimately, pulled up.
Leopardstown will suit Frodon, the mount of regular partner Bryony Frost, and he’s sure to go close.
Cheltenham Gold Cup victor Minella Indo probably needed the run when third to Frodon in the north. But, armed with first-time cheekpieces, he never looked in his comfort-zone, off a strong pace, in the ‘King George’.
He’s undoubtedly better than that. The cheekpieces have been discarded and, alarmingly, Rachael Blackmore has lost the ride to Robbie Power. And we must wonder if he has fully recovered from his Kempton exertions. Time will tell.
There is a big day in the enigmatic Asterion Forlonge, the mount of Bryan Cooper for Willie Mullins. But his jumping remains a serious concern.
He was tanking when blundering and unseating Cooper at the third last in the “Durkan’, won by stable-companion Allaho, at Punchestown and, last time, looked set to finish a good second to another Closutton inmate Tornado Flyer in the ‘King George’, when capsizing at the last.
If getting is act together, ‘Asterion’ should figure prominently and appeals more than Janidil and 2020 winner Delta Work, fifth and sixth behind Galvin, A Plus Tard and Kemboy in the ‘Savills’.
Blue to Lord it over his rivals
Blue Lord might boost his ‘Arkle’ prospects at Cheltenham by landing the Irish equivalent on today’s supporting card at Leopardstown.
Willie Mullins runs three in the Ward Solicitors-sponsored Grade 1, with Haut En Couleurs and Saint Sam, both impressive on their respective chasing debuts, set to join the selection.
But Blue Lord, an accomplished hurdler, has won his two chase starts, at Fairyhouse and Naas (beating Lifetime Ambition by twenty lengths) and looks an exciting prospect.
But he’ll be tested here, conceding 9lb. to Gordon Elliott’s Riviere D’etel, already a three-time winner over fences and unable to dictate things when a highly creditable second to another high-class Mullins horse, Ferny Hollow, in a Grade 1 over this course and distance at Christmas.
The Elliott-trained Fil D’or, unbeaten in three over flights, including a Grade 2 at this venue over Christmas, sets the standard in the Grade 1 Racing TV Juvenile Hurdle.
But the strong-galloping grey might not cope with the Mullins runner Vauban, sent off a 4/9 favourite when outpointed by Elliott’s Pied Piper (so impressive in a Grade 2 at Cheltenham last week).
Entitled to improve with that experience under his belt and, significantly, fitted with a tongue-tie, Vauban might end Fil D’or’s unbeaten hurdling record.
Sure to be suited by the step-up in trip, the Gordon Elliott-trained might reverse Naas form, behind classy stable-companion Ginto, with Henry de Bromhead’s Grand Jury in the opening Nathaniel Lacy Solicitors Novice Hurdle.
Tips
1.05.Hollow Games
1.35.Vauban
2.10.Blue Lord (Nap)
2.45.Enjoy D’allen
3.15.Kemboy
3.50.Exit Poll
4.25.Facile Vega
Next Best
1.05.Grand Jury
1.35.Fil D’or
2.10.Riviere D’etel
2.45.A Great View
3.15.Asterion Forlonge
3.50.Mt Leinster
4.25.Itswhatunitesus
Double: Blue Lord and Facile Vega.
O’Hehir’s Longshot: Top Moon (2.45.).
Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email alerts
