Glynn has high hopes for Becauseicouldntsee

Spancilhill trainer Noel Glynn is hoping his star chaser Becauseicouldntsee can step up one place when he lines up for the second year in a row in the ultra-competitive €190,000 Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown next Tuesday.
Second in the race 12 months ago to Dermot Weld’s 33-1 winner Majestic Concorde, Becauseicoulndntsee had a nice pipe-opener for next week’s three-mile test when third to Golden Silver over two miles at Cork recently and Glynn is more than hopeful his eight-year-old, who fell at the second fence in the Grand National at Aintree back in April, can go one better this time round.
He said, “Thankfully, Becauseicouldntsee is in great order and we’re expecting a big run. He just wasn’t himself for a while there earlier this season but he’s coming back to his best now at just the right time. It’s a very open affair and, as you would expect for a race of this nature, it will be hugely competitive.”
The fact that Becauseicouldntsee has 6lb more (11st 9lb) to carry this year does not concern his Durra House trainer, who added, “I’m not really worried about that as he’s a big horse and can carry weight. He’s a fantastic jumper and will relish the step back up in trip. Both his runs this season have been over inadequate trips and he’ll be more at home here over three miles. The Grand National at Aintree is his ultimate target again this season but we’ll have a right go at Tuesday’s race first as it’s a really valuable pot.”
Action at the Foxrock track over their four-day festival (Dec 26 to 29) should be top class with the cream of Ireland’s jumpers listed for duty. St Stephen’s Day is highlighted by the Racing Post Novice Chase, where the likes of Bog Warrior and Sir Des Champs could clash.
Bog Warrior was a revelation when jumping his rivals into submission in the Drinmore Chase at Fairyhouse earlier this month and Tony Martin’s charge will surely be fancied if showing up for this Grade One contest.  Sir Des Champs (also engaged at Limerick) made a very smooth transition to the larger obstacles when sluicing home on his fencing debut recently and last season’s Cheltenham winner will be a difficult opponent.
The Lexus Chase highlights Wednesday’s card at Leopardstown, with Colm Murphy’s Quito De La Roque installed a warm favourite at 11-8 to claim this three-mile prize.
Unbeaten in his four starts to date, Michael O’Leary’s French-bred bagged the valuable JN Wine chase at Down Royal last month, where he really dug deep after the final fence when coming from a seemingly hopeless position to overhaul subsequent Tingle Creek Chase winner Sizing Europe.
Robbie Hennessy was thrilled when his Rubi Light landed the John Durkan at Punchestown last time out and his improving six-year-old could have a big say in the Lexus. A superb jumper, he is improving all the time and it appears as if he will he handle the step up in trip.
Joncol, who chased home Rubi Light at Punchestown, will be fancied for his Wexford trainer Paul Nolan and he’s a very useful performer who will relish the soft ground.
The Grade One Istabraq Hurdle tops the bill on the closing afternoon, with reigning champion hurdler Hurricane Fly a stand-out entry for this €85,000 two-miler.
Willie Mullins’ stable star is not a definite runner in this contest but if he shows up he cannot be opposed. In his absence, Voler La Vadette would be a big fancy, as would Hurricane Fly’s stablemate Thousand Stars and Jessica Harrington’s Oscar’s Well.

Bumper Limerick festival

Limerick’s annual four-day Christmas racing festival kicks off at Greenmount Park on St Stephen’s Day with huge crowds expected at the Patrickswell facility for what promises to be a feast of racing.
This fixture has long been a highlight of the festive season for racing fans in the Mid-West and beyond, with competitive action on track backed up by a range of entertainment such as live bands, best-dressed lady competitions and valuable race card draw prizes each day.
Russell Ferris, manager of Limerick Racecourse, explained, “Everybody here at Greenmount Park is looking forward to a great few days’ racing. Thankfully, the weather looks like being kind to us this year and we are confident we can get through the four days without a hitch. The track is in fantastic shape and we are thrilled with the quality of horses entered.”
“Obviously, Limerick’s Christmas meeting has been an institution for racing fans in the Munster area for many years and this year’s fixture will be no different. There is an ingrained link with racing in this area with trainers like Michael Hourigan, Enda Bolger, Charles Byrnes and Eric McNamara all based within shouting distance of the course and all those will be hoping to be successful at their local track,” concluded the Northern Ireland native.
Racing kicks off each day at 12.35pm and the opening day’s feature is the Grade 2 Greenmount Park Novice Chase. This two-mile, three-furlong contest has attracted 19 entries, with half a dozen of those coming from Willie Mullins’ powerful Carlow yard.
The Closutton handler has some very interesting recruits lined-up and appears to hold a very strong hand. Local trainer Michael Hourigan has his recent Punchestown winner, Crash, engaged and this Gigginstown House-owned ex-point-to-point winner has the class to make an impact.
Philip Fenton’s horses have hit a real purple patch at present and his Last Instalment, who impressed when landing a Grade 2 chase at Punchestown last month, is another for the shortlist while Charles Byrnes’ Flemensfirth mare Knockfierna has done little wrong when winning her two latest starts over the bigger obstacles with ease. Tuesday’s feature is the two-mile, three-furlong €40,000 Grade B Tim Duggan Memorial Handicap Chase, where Droim Toll, trained in Quin by Donie Hassett, is among the entries. A good servant, Droim Toll was just getting into the argument when falling three out at Fairyhouse last time out and, while most of his successes have come over a longer trip, he will give a good account of himself.
The feature race on Wednesday, which is Ladies Day, is the Grade 3 Doran’s Pride Novice Hurdle, with the two and three-quarter-mile Family Fun Day at LRC Handicap Chase the highlight of Thursday afternoon’s closing-day session.
Racing at Limerick is always an enjoyable occasion and, with a holiday atmosphere prevailing at the well-appointed venue, this year’s festival is set to be an outstanding success.

Kauto on for King George

Cross-channel, the highlight of Boxing Day is the King George Chase at Kempton. Clive Smith’s Kauto Star will bid for a record-breaking fifth success in the race. The dual-Gold Cup winner brought the house down when lowering the colours of 2011 Gold Cup hero Long Run in last month’s Betfair Chase at Haydock and the London track will be packed to the rafters when the pair clash again next Monday.
There is a feeling the now 11-year-old Kauto Star may struggle on this occasion as Long Run will surely trip much fitter but Ruby Walsh’s mount will keep Long Run on his toes and anything less than a five-star display from the Sam Waley-Cohen-ridden seven-year-old may well see Kauto Star earn his place in history.
Paul Nicholls will be double-handed in the King George as he also runs Master Minded (also owned by Smith), with Darryl Jacob taking the ride on this two-time Champion Chase winner, who will be tackling three miles for the first time.
While it hard to see the winner coming from outside the top three in the betting, Henrietta Knight’s Somersby may well prove a good each-way bet.
An ex-Costello horse, he was beaten last time out in the Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon (over two-and-a-half miles) but the extra four furlongs in Monday’s race will bring out the best in the improving son of Second Empire, who has only been out of the first three twice on his 18 starts to date.
Looking back at Ascot last Saturday, the highlight was undoubtedly the victory of Big Buck’s in the Long Walk Hurdle.
A real tank of a horse, Paul Nicholls’ stayer made it 14 wins on the trot when putting his rivals to the sword in a most comprehensive fashion.
Ridden by regular partner Ruby Walsh, Big Buck’s only had to be shaken up on the approach to the home turn as the 30-100 favourite powered clear up the Ascot straight to beat stable companion Five Dream by eight lengths.
Big Buck’s, who surpassed Bula’s record of 13 straight victories on Saturday and now has Sir Ken’s total of 16 consecutive wins firmly in his sights, will now head straight to Cheltenham in March, where he is 4-6 favourite to add a fourth Stayers Hurdle to his impressive CV.