27th-Dec-2017

You can understand why Bunk Off Early is favourite for this, he was second in the Grade 1 Deloitte Hurdle last season, he was a highly-rated novice hurdler, but he is making his chasing debut here, and I think that Tycoon Prince is over-priced against him.

Gordon Elliott’s horse was a highly-rated bumper horse three seasons ago.  It didn’t really happen for him over hurdles, but he was always built like a chaser, and he looked good on his chasing debut at Navan four weeks ago when he finished second behind Al Boum Photo.

He was hampered at the second fence that day – by the loose-running Le Martalin, incidentally, who re-opposes today – but his jumping after that was very good for a debutant.  He made nice progress early in the home straight, an he looked the likely winner when he joined Al Boum Photo between the final two fences.  However, he appeared to just tire from there, racing on the far side, away from the stands rail.  Also, it was his first run since the previous March.  He was entitled to come on for it.

The form of that race was enhanced yesterday, when Al Boum Photo was probably all set for victory in the Grade 2 chase at Limerick before he fell at the final fence.

Tycoon Prince should be sharper today with that seasonal debut and chasing debut under his belt.  His good jumping should stand to him here.

It is a good race, Le Martalin and Montalbano are both players, but it may be that there is much more to come from Tycoon Prince now over fences, and he is the bet. 

TYCOON PRINCE WON (ADV 4/1, SP 3/1)