TimeformBlog

[b]One of the feature events of Leopardstown's Christmas meeting, which saw the fourth clash between Hurricane Fly and Solwhit. Timeform share their Perspective entries...[/b] A smart renewal of a Grade 1 hurdle which rarely attracts more than a handful of runners, the pair that fought out the finish of the Hatton's Grace at Fairyhouse earlier in the month filling the same positions. The pace was only fair. [b]HURRICANE FLY[/b] didn't tell us anything we didn't already know about him, but this impressive victory was enough to see him promoted to outright favouritism for the Champion Hurdle. He was fitted with earplugs, jumped slightly out to his right, got in close to two out but challenged on the bridle at the last and quickened clear for just a shake of the reins. It is hard ...

[b]Providing the cold snap relents, there promises to be plenty of top-class jumps racing taking place in Ireland over the Festive period, with Leopardstown's Christmas Festival due to stage no less than six Grade 1 contests.[/b] With any luck, the close proximity of last Wednesday's re-re-re-re arranged Fairyhouse card won't have too much of a negative effect on the final entries, and the likes of [b]Zaidpour[/b], [b]Tranquil Sea[/b] and [b]Hurricane Fly[/b] will all be allowed to have a crack at another Grade 1 victory. The rescheduled Grade 1 Bord Na Mana With Nature Novice Chase now looks set to be the highlight of the final day of the meeting and we could well see [b]Mikael d'Haguenet[/b] bid to quickly make amends for his unlucky defeat in the Drinmore. Willie Mullins' top-class...

[b]Trainer Willie Mullins saddled three winners on an excellent card at Fairyhouse on Wednesday. Pat Jupp looks back over the pick of the action with an eye on Cheltenham Festival targets.[/b] The first Grade 1 on the card was the Royal Bond Novice Hurdle over two miles, and it produced the most visually taking display of the whole day as [b]Zaidpour[/b] (Timeform Rating 150P) hammered his rivals in much the same manner as Dunguib had a year earlier. The subject of sustained market support again, Zaidpour stalked the leader, cruised to the front before the last and quickened clear with his rider virtually motionless to record a twelve-length win over [b]Pineau De Re[/b] (138). The only chink Zaidpour's armour at present appears to be his hurdling, none too fluent at the first ...

[b]There were plenty of Festival clues at Cheltenham over the weekend, with new favourites for two races and shake-ups in the betting for several more. Timeform look back over the action there as well as some of the weekend's other performances of note...[/b] The best winning performance on a weekend of high-class racing at Cheltenham came courtesy of [b]Menorah[/b], who improved markedly on what he showed when winning last season's Supreme Novices' Hurdle to defy top-weight in Sunday's Greatwood Handicap Hurdle. That form is still about half a stone short of what Binocular achieved when winning the Champion Hurdle in March, but Menorah brings an upwardly mobile profile into his second season of racing. He now has to be considered among the leading contenders for the race, as reflected...