Min Needs To Avoid Clash With Altior

The Tingle Creek is often a fantastic race and it didn’t disappoint at the weekend.

Tingle Creek
Altior put in an unbelievable performance even though a lot of things were against him and in favour of other horses on Saturday; like the ground and the fact he was having his first run of the season. But he was very, very impressive and it was a fantastic performance to quicken up on that ground after the last fence.

If he stays in one piece he’ll be hard to beat in the Champion Chase.

Footpad has to redeem himself after a disappointing run at Naas…

and it’ll be interesting to see what he’s like when he reappears, but it’ll take a very good one to beat Altior.

Lalor
Dynamite Dollars won the Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at Sandown and Ornua ran a great race in 2nd for Henry de Bromhead on ground that wouldn’t have suited him either.

However I would be sceptical about taking the form too literally from the race as it was well documented that Lalor would struggle on that ground. I wouldn’t be writing him off if he got better ground. He was a much better horse in the Spring last season and I still think he’s the best horse to come out of that race.

I won on Chris’s Dream at Navan on Saturday and I was very impressed with him. He was a good winner of a Grade 3 over 3 miles last year on heavy ground so those conditions could bring out better in him. Christmas could be an option although the way the weather is at the minute, Leopardstown could end up with good ground so he might go elsewhere. But he’s an exciting horse and one to look forward to for the season.

John Durkan
Min was a good winner of the John Durkan at Punchestown on Sunday but…

…it would’ve been interesting if Ruby Walsh hadn’t have managed to find the room on the inside of Balko des Flos.

Shattered Love really came back at him at the line so Ruby will be glad to have got the space, but it’ll be interesting to see how the race will turn out over the season because they didn’t go too much of a gallop.

The obvious approach for Min would be to avoid Altior so they have the Ryanair as a big option. Getabird made an impressive Chase debut also but he can’t really go left handed so all his form will come on right handed tracks I’d imagine and it’ll be interesting to see how he progresses.