The Sunday Syndicates Post - Issue 10 14/03/21

It's Cheltmas, the fever has set in, I passed the George Mullins lorries on the motorway this morning and it looks like we're going to have not one but two runners on jumps racings biggest stage. 

Grangee takes her chance in the Grade 1 Champion Bumper at 4:50pm on Wednesday. She may be a 20/1 shot but she's a live outsider that's for sure. She was purchased in Febuary last year in France for €25,000. She's now two from three including the Grade 2 Mares bumper at Leopardstown. The only "blot" on her form book was her 3rd place finish behind the freakishly good Eileendover at Market Rasen. I urge you to revisit that run. The ground was boderline unraceable, the pace was slow and they sprinted at the finish, she travelled on the rail and got into a little bit of a barging match to get out and when she did her energy was spent but she got the blacktype and we got the price at Leopardstown! 

She drops in off the pace and likes to come with one strong run, like at Leopardstown where she won a shade cosily at the line. The nature of the race on Wednesday will suit her well, they'll go off like the clappers and hopefully she'll be flying home late at the line. Ground is forecasted to be Good to Soft which I think will bring out further improvement. She gets the 7lb mares allowance and we await jockey bookings (10am tomorrow) but we have one very excited group of people who aren't going to get much sleep this week.

In typical Willie Mullins fashion we still don't know if Cabaret Queen will line up in the Mares Chase or not. However, she wasn't declared to run in the Leinster National today and she was one of 13 conformations for Fridays Mares Chase. Fillies like The Queen don't come around too often. A £13,000 purchase in 2019 she has won two €100,000 Grade A handicaps and has been Listed and Grade 3 placed since joining the maestro.

Cabaret Queen became our first runner at the Cheltenham Festival last year. Willie found the key to her this year, keep her fresh and make the running. She is a joy to watch when she gets into a rhythm up on the front end. She's only finished out of the top three in one of her five runs this year. That came in the Thyestes Chase at Gowran on her last start where a false start scuppered plans to make the running and she ended up way off the pace. Testiment to her hardiness she finished the race when over half the field were pulled up.

2m5f is the bare minimum trip that she wants. However, to get 2m5f around Cheltenham you have to be able to stay, and that she does. It's a Grade 2 and there's some good mares in the field. It's going to be very difficult to get our own way out in front. Magic Of Light likes to make the running with Elimay, Colreevy, Shattered Love and Annie Mc all racing in behind the leaders. It promises to be a cracking race and we'll look forward to taking our chance if that's what Willie decides en route to the Grand National.

50 up for Far Above

Far Above covered his 50th mare on Friday. He's getting quantity and loads of quality. He's firmly on track to cover over 150 mares. Breeders from Ireland, England, France and Italy have all flocked to Mullingar to grab a piece of one of the hottest FSS around.

Low Stock Alert

The Grangee Giveaway stemmed a huge surge in sales yesterday. Jack may have lost the plot given how much we like the mare on Wednesday but it would be extra reason for everyone to celebrate if she gets the job done. There's now just 2 shares left in Mise le Meas (New Bay ex. Mise), she's been very popular given her huge pedigree and physical attributes. Click here to  head over to the website, be quick!

2yo's remain unbeaten!

We had a great morning on the Curragh on Friday morning with the Harty's, Ken and Johnny. I had a sit on Cliffsofthunder which was great and we look forward to her making her debut next month. Our three 2yo's worked very well pleasing trainers, jockeys and owners. We have some exciting features to follow as we all can't unfortunately visit the stables. It looks like the Kodi Bear filly will be our first 2yo runner all going well closley followed by the Invincible Spirit colt. Mise le Meas and the Kodi Bear filly have both been entered in the €200,000 Ballyhane Race on August 2nd.

#MyThreeForCheltenham

You may all start kicking into gear or someone is going to rob this 1% in the Kodi Bear filly! I was asked to pick out some ousiders for the week so I've decided to do this as my three for Cheltenham.

We go to the Coral Cup on Wednesday for my first selection Birchdale. He was 8th in this race last year beaten just over 9 lengths when he faded in the last 100yards. I think this race has been the plan again ever since then and he arrives here this year 2lbs lower than his good effort last year. Nicky is brilliant at getting a horse to peak at Cheltenham and at 16/1 I think he represents good value.

Sticking with Wednesday we go to the Grand Annual which is always one of my highlights of the week. Us And Them arrives here 12 months after his gallant 3rd in this race last year. He's been placed at two Festivals so far and was only beaten three and a half lengths last year. He gets 1lb from the handicapper and I wouldn't be surprised to see him flying home at the finish again. Betfair are paying 5 places on both of these races.

It's make or break for me on Wednesday as we go to the Champion Bumper and for reasons stated above GRANGEE will complete my Cheltenham treble.

Birchdale @ 16/1

Us And Them @ 16/1

Grangee @ 20/1

6,069/1 treble

Cheltenham Preview

We're doing a preview with a twist this year. Make sure and register for the zoom here whi ch will be at 8pm tonight

Thank you.

Thanks for reading, happy Mothers Day and enjoy the best week of jumps racing.