Dr. P.J. Moriarty Novice Chase 2012

2.40 Leopardstown

Dr. P.J. Moriarty Novice Chase (grade 1) (Class 1)  (5YO plus)

Winner €48,750

Advice: 1 pt win Lambro (5/2 Boylesports)

 

Call The Police: Won for first time since February on his chasing debut with easy win at Gorwan; Possessed plenty of class over hurdles (runner up to Final Apporach in MCR Hurdle) and would be foolish to dismiss despite being yard’s second string.

Lambro: Best of these over hurdles, winning completive Grade 2 (looked poor at the time, worked out since) before Punchestown disappointment; excellent start over fences when beating Shinrock Paddy with plenty to spare and had a very hard task when taking on Flemenstar over 2 miles last time out, staying with the Irish Arkle winner all the way to the line; Should go well upped to what is probably his optimum.

Last Instalment: Been a promising sort for a long time (won champion point to point bumper by 27 lengths) but really thrived over fences, landing hat trick in emphatic style with 6 length in in the Drinmore Chase; This slightly new test dropped in trip but should still prove very hard to beat if jumping anywhere near as well as he did last time.

Shot From The Hip: Had everything come right for him when winning Grade 1 at Punchestown but put in frankly shoddy round of jumping at Leopardsotwn on chasing debut and wasn’t that much better when winning weaker race at Fairyhouse last time; This much better.

VERDICT: A small but select field for this event. Last Instalment deserves favouritism after his romp last time out but the disparity between him and LAMBRO in the prices is too big given that Willie Mullins’s charge gets his ideal trip after making Flemenstar work hard over 2 miles at Naas latest, and was at least his equal over hurdles. Call The Police and Shot From The Hip are good horses but one still feels they’ll be outclassed.