Loads in with a shout LR, those two are in the mix, I fancy TYM if he runs here, but RSA looking more likely, one that certainly jumps well enough is Vroum Vroum Mag, not sure about the trip though, or the Mullins running plans
Here you go MG...
One horse jumps out - Vroum Vroum Mag in the 4 miler. At the scratch stage last week, Willie Mullins whittled his team for this down to 4, with Valesur Lido being a highly unlikely runner.
The crux is obviously the ongoing debate between Willie and Gigginstown on Don Poli’s target – this or the RSA. It’s probably 50:50. My gut feel is that Willie generally wins these arguments, but equally the exchanges are suggesting won’t, and that Don Poli will run in the RSA instead. Don Poli’s 3/1 NRNB and whilst I can see him going off very short if he lines up and the likes of Wounded Warrior and The Young Master don’t, that doesn’t scream value at this stage.
The conceived wisdom is that if Don Poli doesn’t run, Patrick will be on Perfect Gentleman (25/1). He’s had plenty of problems but they’ve had a much clearer run with him this time and he won a Grade 2 over 2m4f at Cork in November. He fell early on in the Drinmore and then got stuck in a bog at Limerick at Christmas. It’s difficult to assess how good he is, but he is a ten year old and it’s hard to imagine that he can actually win.
Willie Mullins has said during the season that Vroum Vroum Mag is likely to stay in Ireland, where she’d have some simple tasks in valuable mares novice chases. However, she was left in the JLT, RSA and 4 miler and the vibes are that she might deputise for Don Poli in this, if he were to end up in the RSA.
She’s jumped really well and destroyed her rivals in 3 mares novices chases at up to 2m4f since joining Willie Mullins. The form has worked out with her victim at Cork, Our Katie, winning twice since. She could be anything and already has an RPR of 142 without having come off the bridle – and she gets 7lb here. 4 miles is a different test entirely and good ground is an unknown. However, given her value as a broodmare, there’s no way she’ll be risked unless connections feel that she’ll handle the ground and trip.
She’s 25/1 ante-post but is 20/1 NRNB, which is huge. If she lines up, Don Poli won’t and my guess is that so she’ll start about 5/1 – so she has to be backed now.
