WELL WHAT DID you make of the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown?

Flemenstar ran very keenly and never settled while his trainer reported that he boiled over a little bit in the saddling box. He was jumping so well that Andrew Lynch had to take a pull after every fence and the horse never really got into a rhythm.

However nothing was going better than him turning for home and he’ll get another chance, and deserves it, in the Hennessy. Sir Des Champs looked as if the run would bring him on and he seemed out of it before the third last.

But he got a second wind and stayed on to be fourth while First Lieutenant ran a huge race and was just pipped by Tidal Bay who stayed on better than anyone. Ruby Walsh said that the race was run at a good gallop. I thought myself that it was steady enough. However the ground was very tacky and holding or “gluey” as Paul Carberry described it and they probably went steady enough.

Indeed Midnight Chase, normally a front runner was content to sit there with the rest of the field. It will be interesting to see how Flemenstar gets on in the Hennessy. I wouldn’t write him off yet, nor Sir Des Champs either.

Leopardstown stages the Istabraq Festival Hurdle today. The Grade 1 race has just five runners declared and last year’s winner Unaccompanied has it all to do to retain the race. She was well beaten by Hurricane Fly in the Irish Champion Hurdle and it’s hard to see her reverse that form. Captain Cee Bee also looks held by Hurricane Fly on their run at Punchestown last month. Thousand Stars ran poorly at Tipperary last time and he has never beaten his stablemate.

Hurricane Fly is reported to have come on for his run at Punchestown and it would be a major shock if he was beaten here and will surely give the Mullins/Walsh team another big win.

Over at Newbury the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle looks a more open affair. Run over 2m 5f on heavy ground it will  be a test of stamina for these novices. Ballybough Pat goes on heavy ground having won his point to point and bumper on the surface, the latter quite impressively. It’s hard to know what to make of his last run when second to the veteran Fair Along in a Handicap Hurdle. He probably needs to find a bit more to figure here. Clondaw Kaempfer cost connections £130,000 after winning the sales bumper at Fairyhouse last Easter.

He then reappeared in a novice hurdle at Aintree in October where he easily saw off his three opponents and then went to Haydock where he won a listed hurdle. Coming from Donald McCain’s in form stable he’s sure to be there or there abouts, though he has yet to run on heavy ground. Easter Day comes from the in form Paul Nicholls yard. He’s only run four times and is open to more improvement. Another who has yet to encounter heavy ground he might find one or two better than him but he’s one for the notebook.

For me Taquin Du Seuil is the one they have to beat. He was an easy winner on his first start for Jonjo O’Neill before finishing a close second to the classy My Tent Or Yours over 2m before being upped in trip and running out a very easy winner of a Grade 2 Hurdle at Sandown. He’s highly regarded by his handler, should improve again for his last run and shouldn’t be inconvenienced by the extra furlong.

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