Majborough has ability to make up for Cheltenham disappointment

Irish Examiner

01-05-2025

Majborough's defeat in the Arkle Chase was an early disappointment at the Cheltenham Festival but with a reasonable round of jumping, he almost certainly would have justified odds-on favouritism.
Back on a retrieval mission in the Grade One Barberstown Castle Novice Chase on day three in Punchestown, he can reverse form with Only By Night, who finished runner-up in the Cheltenham Grade One.
Willie Mullins' 2024 Triumph Hurdle winner made quite an impression when leading all the way in a beginners' chase at Fairyhouse and followed up with a much more authoritative display in a Grade One at the Dublin Racing Festival.
On the back of that, he was a short-priced favourite to complete his treble with Arkle success, but his jumping was indifferent, and a mistake at the second-last almost brought him to a halt. He did well to recover well enough to finish third, beaten just three parts of a length in total.
The five-year-old has been given plenty of time since that run and barring similar accidents, he will reverse form with Only By Night.
The ground will not be in favour of Teahupoo and yet he is difficult to oppose in the Grade One Ladbrokes Champion Stayers' Hurdle.
Winner of the Cheltenham Stayers' Hurdle in 2024, he followed up in this race and while he has been beaten in both outings to date this season, the first was behind Lossiemouth, and the second in an unsuitably slow running of the Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham.
As is his wont, his track appearances are few and far between, but there is no reason to believe he won't be capable of running to the same level as he did when winning this 12 months ago.
The mercurial Hiddenvalley Lake was back to his best at Aintree, though it wasn't an incredibly strong race. Rocky's Diamond's fourth-place finish in the Stayers' Hurdle leaves him with something to find with the selection, but Declan Queally's horse is just a five-year-old and he has strong each-way claims if coping with the ground.
Sixandahalf is likely to be all the rage in the listed Close Brothers Irish EBF Mares' Novice Hurdle and Gavin Cromwell's filly will take all the beating if running to the same level as when runner-up in the equivalent race at the Cheltenham Festival.
However, she has an interesting rival in the shape of the Nicky Henderson-trained Timetoshine, and that one makes each-way appeal given she is very much unexposed.
The five-year-old, who has plenty of Flat form in France, was quite green when making a winning debut over hurdles, and while her jumping on her second outing was quite clean, she was a little high over the obstacles. Nevertheless, she quickened away after the last to win as she liked, and she appeared to have the measure of Miss Altea Blue when that one fell at the last.
Third time up, at Chepstow, she showed a little improvement in her jumping and didn't have to be asked a question to justify odds of 1-25.
This is clearly a huge step up relative to those assignments, but she rattles off good ground, loves a strong pace in a race, and really stretches out in the closing stages.
Whether she has the ability of Sixandahalf or not will only be revealed shortly after 4:50 but at early prices close to 20-1, she makes each-way appeal.
The nap goes to Ksar Fatal, who contests the finale, the JP & M Doyle Bumper. When winning his only outing in a point to point, he had the useful Cardcounter five lengths back in second place, and he confirmed that promise by making a winning start on the track, at Gowran Park, readily going clear.
This is a nice step up in company, but he comes here fresh, full of potential, and can continue on his winning ways.
Tommy Lyons' picks:
2:30 Green Sky
3:05 Jasko Des Dames
3:40 Stealthy Tom
4:15 Jeriko Du Reponet
4:50 Timetoshine
5:25 Majborough
6:00 Teahupoo (nb)
6:35 Ksar Fatal (nap)
Next best:
2:30 Withabitofluk
3:05 Midnight It Is
3:40 The Goffer
4:15 Park Of Kings
4:50 Sixandahalf
5:25 Only By Night
6:00 Rocky's Diamond
6:35 Kilwaughter