28th-Dec-2022

I am backing Maskada for the Tim Duggan Memorial Handicap Chase at Limerick.

Henry de Bromhead’s mare was unlucky not to win on her seasonal return at Fairyhouse three weeks ago.  She travelled really well through her race, her jumping was very good, and she looked a likely winner when Darragh O’Keeffe moved her to the outside on the run to the second last fence.  She actually jumped the fence well too, she just seemed to stumble on landing.

Malina Girl won that race, and Malina Girl has a good chance in the mares’ Grade 2 chase earlier on the day.  Optional Mix was second, and Optional Mix won a lady riders’ handicap hurdle at Limerick yesterday.

Maskada gets to race today off a mark of 132, just 1lb higher than her Fairyhouse mark, and that mark probably under-rates her by a fair way.  She is a classy mare, she finished fourth behind Blue Lord and Coeur Sublime and Gabynako in the Grade 1 two-mile novice chase at the Punchestown Festival last season, in front of Haut En Couleurs and Saint Sam.  That was her first run for Henry de Bromhead, and her Fairyhouse run was her seasonal debut.  She has the potential to go forward quite significantly now.

Rebel Gold is the main danger in my book, and last year’s winner, Maskada’s stable companion Spyglass Hill, could run well again, off a 5lb higher mark this time, but Maskada is the bet. 

MASKADA WON (SP 5/1)