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| Keep Calm and Carrig On - Carrigmoorna Rock looks a place alternative to the hot favourite |
Whether or not last year’s World Hurdle runner up will line-up though remains up in the air, although Mullins has only today issued a bulletin that she is back riding out and the Mares Hurdle is indeed the intended festival target.
Even coming off an absence of what will be almost ten months she would be nigh on unbeatable if she turns up, but her price of course reflects this. Mullins proved with Quevega that he can bring a mare back from a long lay-off to run away with this race so that isn’t really a concern and the fact she’s still only tasted defeat once under rules should rate her as almost as much of a banker as Quevega has been for the last half decade or so.
Therefore the value call at this stage is to look for an each-way alternative that can bring a nice return simply by chasing home the Mullins superstar or perhaps land the spoils should Annie Power not make Cheltenham.
John Quinn sadly lost his good mare Cockney Sparrow but has another talented mare on his hands in the form of Aurore D’Estruval. The five-year-old had good form last season but has stepped up on that this term with two wins and an excellent second to Irving in the Fighting Fifth.
She was very impressive last time out stepped up to the Mares Hurdle trip of 2m4f jumping fluently giving weight away in bottomless ground so should improve again for a sounder surface come March, at a best price of 9/2 presently though she doesn’t offer much value for a place.
Next in the betting come Mullins duo Glens Melody and Morning Run, the first named looked briefly like causing an upset last year before being passed by her stable mate in the dying strides.
She’s run with credit at the highest level since and will be in the mix again if lining up but we know pretty much all there is to know about her now and with Annie Power the obvious first string, again at the current price, she looks short enough for each-way purposes.
The unbeaten Morning Run is the potential wildcard in the Mullins pack as she’s looked very smart in her five starts to date and the form of some of those races has been franked handsomely since too.
She would be of great interest if lining up, but the suspicion is that she won’t – Mullins has always endeavoured to keep his best horses apart and if Annie Power runs in the Mares Hurdle then it’s difficult to see Morning Run doing so as well.
That brings us to a horse twice beaten by the aforementioned Morning Run in the last year but that has also shown herself to be a talented and fast improving animal in her own right as well.
Robert Tyner’s mare has shown a useful level of form at 2m including landing a decent Listed contest under Tony McCoy at Newbury back in November, but she is more importantly unbeaten over the intermediate trip and produced a highly impressive performance last time out back up in trip to land a Grade 3 event at Leopardstown over Christmas.
The form of her Newbury win has worked out okay with a couple of the beaten horses running well since and she’s also proved she can travel across the Irish Sea and remain at the top of her game.
She really did look a horse to follow last time out and Paddy Power’s stand out 14/1 looks worth snapping up from an each-way perspective. She’ll be over what has proven to be her best distance and could improve further for better ground like so many of the King’s Theatre offspring.
Fellow King’s Theatre progeny Little King Robin could be dangerous if allowed to get loose up front and her beating of Arctic Fire earlier this season now looks a lot better following that one getting so close to Hurricane Fly and Jezki last time out.
However most will probably be wise to her tactics by now and whether she’ll truly be able to see out that sort of pace up the hill is highly questionable.
Polly Peachum is another that could have a say following her impressive seasonal reappearance lugging a big weight to victory at Wincanton back in early November.
She’s not been seen since late November though after a fall when beat at Kempton and will need to prove her well being but she too could be a nice place option.
This year’s Mares race is shaping up to be a very good renewal and although Annie Power will stand head and shoulders above her opposition if she makes it to the race, the battle for the minor honours in behind could be very intriguing indeed.
Plenty have place claims, but at a stand out price and with further improvement likely following a hugely promising effort last time out Carrigmoorna Rock looks the pick of the chasing pack.
Recommendation:
Carrigmoorna Rock 0.5pt each way @ 14/1 (Paddy Power)
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