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Shutthefrontdoor won the Irish Grand National on his last visit to Ireland at Easter and the JP McManus-owned star could attempt to cement claims on this season’s Cheltenham Gold Cup by returning for Sunday week’s
€150,000 Lexus Chase at Leopardstown.
The fast-improving seven-year-old is a general 20-1 shot for “blue-riband” glory at Cheltenham in March, but the McManus team used the 2011 Lexus as a successful stepping stone towards a Gold Cup victory for Synchronised and victory against some proven top-notchers over Christmas would see Shutthefrontdoor’s festival odds tumble.
The past two Gold Cup winners, Lord Windermere and Bobs Worth, are among those likely to set the standard for the 2014 Lexus, but cross-channel raiders have won a remarkable seven of the past eight renewals of Leopardstown’s day-three Christmas feature and a satisfactory piece of work later this week will see Shutthefrontdoor on the boat across the Irish Sea.
“If he runs anywhere over Christmas, it will be in the Lexus,” said McManus’s racing manager, Frank Berry. “He’s going to do a piece of work later in the week, and if that goes okay, it looks like Leopardstown will be the plan.”
Another McManus star, Carlingford Lough, could also line up in the Lexus despite not yet having had a run so far this season. The John Kiely-trained horse won twice at the top level as a novice last season, including the Topaz Chase at Leopardstown, and is a 33-1 shot for the Gold Cup. “He had a bit of a setback before he was due to run in Down Royal, which held him up a bit, but he’s back and will do a bit of work later in the week. He has a chance of making the race as well,” said Berry.
€150,000 Lexus Chase at Leopardstown.
The fast-improving seven-year-old is a general 20-1 shot for “blue-riband” glory at Cheltenham in March, but the McManus team used the 2011 Lexus as a successful stepping stone towards a Gold Cup victory for Synchronised and victory against some proven top-notchers over Christmas would see Shutthefrontdoor’s festival odds tumble.
The past two Gold Cup winners, Lord Windermere and Bobs Worth, are among those likely to set the standard for the 2014 Lexus, but cross-channel raiders have won a remarkable seven of the past eight renewals of Leopardstown’s day-three Christmas feature and a satisfactory piece of work later this week will see Shutthefrontdoor on the boat across the Irish Sea.
“If he runs anywhere over Christmas, it will be in the Lexus,” said McManus’s racing manager, Frank Berry. “He’s going to do a piece of work later in the week, and if that goes okay, it looks like Leopardstown will be the plan.”
Another McManus star, Carlingford Lough, could also line up in the Lexus despite not yet having had a run so far this season. The John Kiely-trained horse won twice at the top level as a novice last season, including the Topaz Chase at Leopardstown, and is a 33-1 shot for the Gold Cup. “He had a bit of a setback before he was due to run in Down Royal, which held him up a bit, but he’s back and will do a bit of work later in the week. He has a chance of making the race as well,” said Berry.
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