7th-Mar-2020

My starting point with this race was to try to take on the favourite The Long Mile but, actually, the more you delve into the race, the more solid he gets, and he is the bet.

Philip Dempsey’s horse is a really nice progressive young chaser.  Off the mark over fences in a handicap chase at Naas in December off a mark of 104, he ran well in a better race next time, keeping on well over two miles and five furlongs to take second place behind the easy winner At The Acorn.

That is good form, At The Acorn was travelling well when he was hampered at the second last in the Leopardstown Chase next time, and The Long Mile ran well to chase him home, with Diamond Turf back in fourth.

Diamond Turf meets him on 8lb better terms today, but The Long Mile finished well clear of the Gigginstown House horse that day.  He chased the winner home, while Diamond Turf just kept on past beaten horses to take fourth place.

Diamond Turf ran well last time at Down Royal, just going down to Castle Oliver, who won next time too and who is well fancied for tomorrow’s Leinster National.  But The Long Mile stepped forward himself last time, staying on well to get the better of Conright Boy again, over two miles at Gowran Park on Red Mills day.

The handicapper raised him by 9lb for that, but he is only six and that was just his sixth run over fences.  He goes into the race on an upward trajectory.  Also, we know that he can go well on soft ground at Gowran Park, and the step up to two and a quarter miles is a positive.

Allardyce would be interesting if he returned to the form that saw him win a decent handicap chase at Naas in January, but he was disappointing last time, and The Long Mile is the bet.

THE LONG MILE WON (SP 5/2)