Royal Bond Novice Hurdle review

This year’s renewal is extremely unlikely to match the quality of the last one, where Jezki defeated Champagne Fever, however it is unwise to be overly dogmatic given the progressive profile of the winner and the unexposed nature of those in behind.

Alonso was backed into clear favouritism despite lacking the home reputation and buzz around him that so many Closutton novices have when they hit the track. It was intriguing, therefore, to see strength in the market behind this Spanish bred gelding, suggesting there was a degree of confidence but it proved to be misplaced as Alonso failed to deliver a telling blow. Ruby Walsh positioned him well as he entered the home straight, delivering his mount to the outside of the leading pair and he was given every chance to make a race winning move but lacked the ability for this level and possibly the speed for this trip. His first start in Ireland came over two-and-a-half miles at Wexford where he took to hurdling impressively, looking on top at the last as his main rival crumpled in heap. This inevitably led to a more comfortable victory than had seemed likely but the eventual second, some twenty three lengths in arrears, boosted the form next time with success in a similar contest at Punchestown. Willie Mullins has few qualms about running his novices over longer than ideal trips in their maidens given their, generally, slowly run nature and a desire to keep his string apart. Hence, Alonso’s introduction over twenty furlongs should not automatically indicate a need for such a test. The way he ran on Sunday did though and Mullins’ arsenal of staying novice hurdlers probably rules Alonso out of a trip to Cheltenham for graded contests.

Of course, it is not only in the staying division where Willie Mullins has a strong hand as in spite of Alonso being the most fancied of his trio in the Royal Bond, he finished worst of all in fourth. Renneti, the mount of Paul Townend, achieved the best result finishing second. He held a rating of 90 on the flat in France and he showed speed in a minor event on his hurdling debut at Downpatrick, comprehensively outclassing his rivals over two miles and two furlongs. Dropped to the minimum trip on Sunday he shaped like an out and out two miler. He was sent on in an attempt to make all by his pilot and, perhaps due to his keenness in front, he set a reasonable pace until a late drop in tempo, when Paul Townend stacked them up in behind, before quickening off the final bend. An exuberant leap at the penultimate flight looked to have potentially sealed the race before the eventual winner’s greater stamina reserves kicked in. Renneti pulled early on but he may settle better with a lead as I doubt the tactics employed at Fairyhouse were a necessity. Champagne Fever finished second in this, beaten further, and went onto land the ultimate novice prize at Cheltenham but it is hard to imagine Renneti repeating the feat. Not only will he be down the pecking order of his trainer’s Supreme candidates, he will down the list of his owner’s too.

The final Mullins representative in the Royal Bond was Arctic Fire. Like the aforementioned pair he is a four-year-old who won his first start in Ireland with the minimum of fuss. Deft jumping and a sharp turn-of-foot characterised his Irish debut and more of the same was expected on his next start at Gowran Park but just as he was looking for a gap to unleash his challenge he clipped heels and hit the floor. I suspect he would have won then and again on Sunday there were reasons to think he was unlucky. In an attempt to find cover Arctic Fire has found trouble on his last two starts, if he is a particularly difficult ride, and he was the third choice of the Mullins camp, then he may just be one to be wary of. If he just needs a gap and a race where the field isn’t stacked up at a crucial point then he is still a live contender in the high profile two mile novice hurdle events. He was dropped out in rear on Sunday and moved comfortably through the race, there were no headstrong tendencies as one might expect from a horse so apparently in need of cover. As Renneti quickened off the bend Arctic Fire was still travelling strongly, David Casey waited before trying to make a race defining move. As he did so two rivals moved across into his path halting what momentum he had built up. Once Mr Fiftyone faded away on his inside he had a clear view of the last and he stormed home to finish just a length-and-a-half off the winner. His rapid progression from last came as the race was essentially over but it was nonetheless eye-catching from a horse coming back so soon after a tumble and with a straight forward passage a degree of ‘push button’ acceleration could be expected. The fast pace of a Supreme should suit Arctic Fire, despite worries about finding yet more trouble in running, although the improvement required to land such a prize is likely beyond him.

Sunday’s winner, The Tullow Tank, is not your typical two mile novice hurdler. He is a huge specimen of a horse, noticeably more substantial than the runner up, and his name was evidently no coincidence. When he meets a hurdle correctly he can really take off, he has such scope one can only look forward to a chasing career next season. He is, though, a Grade 1 winner over hurdles now and deserves tremendous respect in the novice sphere for the rest of the season. Whether he will remain at two miles, or not, is the pertinent question. I felt for much of the race at Fairyhouse he was going as fast as he wanted. A number of the field travelled far more easily but his rider, Danny Mullins, was always alive to the leader having a relatively comfortable time of it up front and made sure he was within striking distance as Renneti entered the straight. Between the last two hurdles it seemed for a time that the leader was unreachable but as the final obstacle got nearer so did The Tullow Tank. From the last he stayed on well finishing with more in hand than the half-a-length margin of victory indicated. On the basis of this performance and the way he was so strong at the end of his last two wins he could come unstuck as he takes on even stronger rivals at this trip. There would be no worries about him seeing out a longer trip and he will be able to travel more smoothly, while his jumping, which can be good on occasion, is not slick and over further slow leaps won’t prove so costly.

I can’t see him threatening to win a Supreme, if it was the route they pursued I wouldn’t rule out a sustained burst up the hill into a place but that would be the limit. In terms of Cheltenham aspirations, the Neptune is far more realistic. Philip Fenton believes his charge is a significantly better proposition on a right-handed course, therefore any long term plans for the Festival are still up in the air, but I am not convinced and assuming he continues his development I do expect him to line up in a race at Prestbury Park. He broke his maiden tag, for instance, at the left-handed venue, Naas. The five-year-old’s jumping did not markedly suffer travelling that way round, one clumsy dive at a hurdle was down to inexperience more than anything, and it was a display almost as good as his Grade 1 victory. The Tullow Tank managed to defeat the very exciting Turnandgo who was in the top handful of bumper performers of last season. Turnandgo allegedly had training problems in the build up to that race and it was his first run over hurdles as opposed to the winner’s third, but I suspect Mullins rates him higher than any of the three he ran on Sunday even if the son of Morozov is more of a chaser than a hurdler. At Naas, Danny Mullins had to play his hand late having found no way through up the inside. He switched out before the last, costing himself ground, and The Tullow Tank’s response was immediate as he scythed down Turnandgo who had looked all over the winner. In the end it was a cosy victory, it could have been extremely noteworthy had Danny Mullins found a gap up the inner when he wanted it. There was nothing on show to warrant any avoidance of left-handed tracks and I just hope such prejudices do not dominate connections thoughts when it comes to mapping out the rest of this Tank’s season.

Back in fifth behind The Tullow Tank on Sunday was Very Wood who did seem to appreciate the return to a right-handed racecourse. Having looked so awkward at Navan, he was straightforward here sticking on at the one pace, overwhelmingly reversing the form with Minella Foru. It is clear Very Wood requires a stronger test of stamina, it should have been clear after his last run, and we will have a better idea of his level of ability once he is given his chance over further. I would suggest though that Minella Foru failed to give his running on Sunday. It was a disappointingly flat performance from a horse who had previously shown more speed. I wouldn’t want to give up on his prospects this season even if Eddie Harty’s charge is unlikely to be top class and I hope he is given the opportunity to prove this run was all wrong in the near future.

The major disappointment of the Royal Bond was the second favourite Gilt Shadow who had been imperious at Down Royal a month earlier. His second in the Grade 1 bumper at Punchestown had looked stronger and stronger form as this season developed and much was expected of him back in Grade 1 company. He sat in behind Renneti where he easily maintained second place until the third last from where he was asked for more of an effort. His response lasted a few yards as he reduced his deficit to the leader before dropping away alarmingly in the home straight. I am sure an excuse will be found and we will have another chance to witness his conspicuous talent in a competitive race. Nonetheless, this was a big day for connections as he is the sort of proven novice who could have been purchased by one of racing’s heavy hitters on the back of a strong showing.