Fancy a boogie at Leopardstown?

Fancy a Boogie at Leopardstown?


SATURDAY’S showpiece at Leopardstown has had more names than Prince. Previously the Ladbroke Hurdle, then the Pierse, last year it was the MCR and now it’s the Boylesports. But despite the clatter of christenings, it has remained one of the most valuable handicap hurdles in Europe and trainers tend to put one by for it.
There are few shrewder than Charles Byrnes when it comes to handicap plots. The Ballingarry-based trainer won the race back in 2004 with Dromalease Express and, eight years on, SCOTTISH BOOGIE appears to have a very similar profile.
His prep-run at Leopardstown over Christmas didn’t just catch the eye; it poked in the cornea. Given a typically patient ride from Paul Carberry, he had a wall of horses in front of him turning for home but still appeared to be full of running.
He stayed on encouragingly to finish third, beaten just over three lengths by Cass Bligh. It was just what the doctor ordered. A win there would have scuppered his attractive handicap mark but instead, he has gone up just 2lb and will carry 10-3 on Saturday.
No doubt Byrnes has had this race in mind for quite some time and his owner Patrick Wilmott is no stranger to a good old-fashioned punt, so don’t be surprised to see the 13/2 that Victor Chandler are offering gobbled up in the next few days.
Reizovic finished just behind Scottish Boogie in that aforementioned Leopardstown contest and is certainly feared, as is What A Charm whose trainer Arthur Moore has won the race on a couple of occasions. But I would be bitterly disappointed if Scottish Boogie is not at least 10lb better than his current mark and the five-year-old is a confident selection to land the lucrative pot.

THE FESTIVAL
THERE are just seven weeks to go until the Cheltenham Festival, but as of yet, we have yet to see a Dunguib or a Cue Card emerge for the Supreme Novices Hurdles. That pair were sent off at 4/5 and 7/4 respectively for the last festival openers but this year’s renewal looks wide-open and Ladbrokes make Steps To Freedom their 10/1 favourite.
He hasn’t been seen since edging out Prospect Wells at the Open Meeting but the latter has had his bubble well and truly burst recently so that form may not be as strong as it looked at the time.
Colour Squadron and Cinders And Ashes are similarly likeable types but they don’t have the ‘wow’ factor and are likely to be placed at best.
Nicky Henderson could hold the key as he has Darlan, Captain Conan and SIMONSIG towards the top of the market.
Simonsig actually has the best piece of form in the book. That arrived in defeat when chasing home Fingal Bay over 2m4f at Sandown. If you stop the tape with two furlongs to run, Simonsig looked certain to win. He was swinging off the bit after jumping and travelling with supreme fluency through the race but couldn’t get past Fingal Bay, who is a thorough stayer.
Winning a brace of point-to-points would suggest he wants further than the minimum trip but he looked all about speed when winning a bumper at Fairyhouse last Easter and the big galloping grey has that touch of class that most of his rivals are missing. If Henderson decides to go down the Supreme route, expect Geraghty to ride and expect the 14/1 with Boylesports to look huge.

LAST WEEK
THIS column got the New Year off to a great start last Saturday when Somersby, tipped up here last week at 13/2 obliged in the Victor Chandler Chase at Ascot.

OUR ADVICE
Boylesports.com Hurdle (Leopardstown, Saturday)
Scottish Boogie
2pts win 13-2 with Victor Chandler  

Ante-post portfolio
Supreme Novices’ Hurdle
Simonsig
1pt win 14-1 with Boylesports