Kinloch Brae Steeplechase 2013

[Guest]

Looks like a decent renewal


2:45) 11D Matty Ryan Memorial Kinloch Brae S'chase
(Grade 2) €29,250.00 ( 2m 4f - 6yo+ )[MAX 18]

NHFrm
3f11- 1 Bog Warrior(150) (AJMartin) - . .......... 11,10
-336- 2 Quito De La Roque (FR)(155) (CAMurphy) - . ............. 11,10
5432- 3 Rubi Light (FR)(160) (RAHennessy) - . .................................. 11,10
861p- 4 Apt Approach(148) (WPMullins) - . .... 11,0
1-1- 5 Days Hotel(159) (Hde Bromhead) - . .. 11,08
434f- 6 Rathlin (GB)(145) (MFMorris) - . ......... 11,08
111-1 7 Roi Du Mee (FR)(156) (GElliott) - . ..... 11,08
253-2 8 Tranquil Sea(153) (EJO'Grady) - . ...... 11,08
4f2-1 9 Call The Police(150) (WPMullins) - . .. 11,06
1581- 10 Bishopsfurze(138) (WPMullins) - . ..... 11,03
234-2 11 Foildubh(147) (JPRyan) - . ................. 11,03
-352- 12 Joncol(153) (PNolan) - . ...................... 11,03
24-4- 13 Oscar Time (MMLynch) - . ................. 11,03
113-3 14 Blazing Tempo(150) (WPMullins) - . .. 11,01

[Old Vic]

Rubi Light waiting for Red Mills..stone bruise

[Sizing]

Pat keane

Roi Du Mee gets the nap to land a fascinating Grade 2 Matty Ryan Memorial Kinloch Brae Chase at Thurles this afternoon.

Gordon Elliott’s charge is on a five-timer and, hopefully, can prove equal to a task that is easily his stiffest of the campaign.

He does seem to be very much on the upgrade, however, with his latest win coming in a Listed event at Tramore on New Year’s Day.

The eight-year-old travelled beautifully through that contest, quickening in style between the final two fences to beat Tranquil Sea, now 3lbs worse in, by seven and a half lengths.

Highest rated in the race is Days Hotel, who is unbeaten in three outings over fences. He returned in rude good health to take another Grade 2 at Cork, over two miles, by six lengths in early December.

This is his first attempt at two and a half miles, though, so it remains to be seen if he will get the trip.

The other to consider is Foildubh, who was conceding Call The Police 7lbs when beaten half a length into second by that horse on this track last time.

[Sizing]

A cracking renewal of the Matty Ryan Memorial Kinloch Brae Chase is the highlight on a decent Thurles card that boasts total prize money of no less than €159,000.

The two-and-a-half-mile Grade Two, which offers a €52,500 winner's pot, is the Tipperary venue's annual flagship event, and former Hennessy Gold Cup hero Joncol is one of three horses – Quito De La Roque and Tranquil Sea being the others – in the eight-strong line-up to have each managed a pair of top-level triumphs.

Oscar Time, runner-up in the 2011 Grand National, continues his preparations for this season's Aintree spectacular under Long Run's Gold Cup-winning rider Sam Waley-Cohen, with Foildbuh and Rathlin other able campaigners that will keep everything honest.

However, Roi Du Mee and Days Hotel are the form horses. Unbeaten in its last four, Gordon Elliott's Roi Du Mee has been a revelation in testing going this term.

Following a superlative Tramore triumph over Tranquil Sea, he could again take plenty of stopping, but the handicapper has Days Hotel three pounds clear on figures.

Given the calibre of horse that Henry de Bromhead's charge drew clear of in fine style on his Cork reappearance after a lay-off, that theoretical superiority is justifiable.

Realt Dubh, a solid Grade One performer at best, was six lengths behind, with the classy Blazing Tempo third and Foildubh – runner-up to Call The Police here since – fourth.

In the context of today's race, that is tip-top form, so Andrew Lynch's mount is nap material, given that he has scope to improve on just his fourth start over fences.

[mayo]

Irish racing report ...had written winner of myself

This observer counted himself very firmly in the Quito De La Roque fan club but his last two efforts had me marking him down as 'finished.' How wrong can you be though as the French-bred bounced back to his best to land the Grade 2 Matty Ryan Memorial Kinloch Brae Chase at Thurles.
Take a bow Paul Townend! The former champion jockey was aboard Colm Murphy's charge for the first-time and whatever the reason for his resurgence in form the Cork pilot didn't half get a tune from the Gigginstown House Stud-owned nine-year-old.

He ended up beating his fellow Michael O'Leary-owned contestant, the favourite, Roi Du Mee, by six and a half lengths.

Second in the betting, Days Hotel (suffered an over-reach on his off-fore) saw his hopes end when pecking at the third last. Another of the fancied ones, Foildubh had to pull up after being effectively put out of the race when badly hampered by Oscar Time's departure at the sixth fence.

Colm Murphy, the winning trainer, said: "He's had his fair share of niggley problems. They were nothing major but they had us stopping and starting with him.

"He ran well up North in the James Nicholson Chase but then things didn't happen for him. At Aintree things happened too quick for him so it's nice to be back on track.

"He's entered everywhere but he doesn't have too many options and I'll see what the lads say.

"The Hennessy and the Gold Cup are there for him and maybe he'll be a National horse. Time will tell and we'll dream on for a while."

Stan James go 50/1 from 100/1 about Quito De La Roque for the Cheltenham Gold Cup. (TW & EM)