Air Of Entitlement

It is a pity that He Can’t Dance has been balloted out of the Martin Pipe Hurdle. Like Munsif in the Fred Winter Hurdle, he made it into the reserves list, but he didn’t get into the race. No harm done though, stakes refunded.

I was considering adding Air Of Entitlement anyway and, in He Can’t Dance’s absence, she will be our only bet in the race.  She ran a massive race at Cheltenham last year to get up and beat Sixandahalf. The worry going into that race was whether or not the two-mile trip would be far enough for her. In the end, it was, but she should be more at home over two and a half.

Her season hasn’t gone as expected, she was beaten on her debut at Fairyhouse in November, and she was down the field last time in a premier handicap hurdle at Leopardstown. But there is still time for her, she is still lightly raced, and that run at Leopardstown was her fifth run over hurdles, which qualified her for this race. You have to run at least five times over hurdles to be able to run. It may have been the plan for a little while.

Her inauspicious season to date has left her on a handicap rating of 139, and she has the potential to go well beyond that. Diva Luna, for example, who finished third in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle last year, is now rated 143 over fences. She should appreciate the return to Cheltenham, Henry de Bromhead’s horses are running well all week, her hold-up style of racing is well suited to this race, and the rain is no harm. She has good form on soft ground.

Our old friend Act Of Authority was temping, as was another old friend Hot Fuss, at a massive price, but I am happy to rely on Air Of Entitlement.

AIR OF ENTITLEMENT WON (ADV 11/1, SP 10/1)