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Sunday 29th November

Before looking ahead to today's action, I must mention the performances of Epatante and Monkfish that lit up Saturday's racing. I think Epatante is now starting to get the credit she deserves, possibly delayed as a result of her blip at Cheltenham in 2019 and the perceived lack of quality in last year's Champion Hurdle. I know, personally, I felt she may be vulnerable to one of the young pretenders this year but based on early season form, she will be very hard to beat in March. Monkfish may have only won a Beginners Chase, but it was the manner of his victory and the exuberance of his jumping that impressed me. I have been harping on about the Albert Bartlett form from last season for quite a while now and Monkfish, in particular, looks potentially an even better chaser in the making. 

Moving onto Sunday and while the quality of horse on view is not in question, the Graded races do not present a betting opportunity. I will be a very interested spectator and look forward to enjoying top quality performances from some current and emerging stars of the national hunt scene. In particular, I will be keeping a close eye on Ballyadam in the Royal Bond in the hope of a clue as to what may prove to be his intended Festival target. 

In terms of  a selection, I am going to suggest a small interest in Eclair De Beaufeu, in the handicap hurdle at 3.05, who looks favourably treated over hurdles after a progressive campaign last season over the larger obstacles. He is rated 153 over fences after winning a handicap at the Dublin Racing Festival and finishing second in the Grand Annual at Cheltenham, pulling well clear with his stablemate Chosen Mate. He is able to run off 135 here and while he may be a better chaser, I think he might be well-handicapped at that. On his penultimate hurdle start, he was in the mix going to the last in the 2019 County Hurdle before unseating off a 1lb higher mark. That performance was also worth marking up as the first five home came from mid division or further back (as is often the case in the County) and he was up with the pace throughout. He is coming here off the back of a fall and while that is a slight negative, I think there are enough positives to have a small investment at the price.


0.5pt win Eclair De Beaufeu (6/1 General) Fairyhouse 3.05 *use BOG firms

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