KERRY NATIONAL: Elliott’s second string can bring the Energy in the Kingdom

When does the jumps season proper begin? A traditionalist Ireland-based jumps fan will say it begins this week in Kerry and while I can hear the flat fans balking at such a notion, this year’s renewal of the Kerry National will have the jumps boys and girls getting jiggy.

Three Grade 1 winners, two of which are Cheltenham Festival victors, top the weights for the 3m contest, while a dual Champion Hurdle placer comes next in the weights. The previous two winners are also showing up, plus a stealthy representation from the Galway Plate, with six of the first nine home showing up in the Kingdom.

It’s a 6/1-the-field betting puzzle to savour and the latter mentioned contest is the most obvious place to start given its strong correlation with this race – these are the two biggest staying handicap chases of the summer in Ireland. Despite Ash Tree Meadow going off from the front again, the Plate was a steadily run affair this season, playing into the hands of those stepping up to the trip, namely the winner Pinkerton, and likely for the Gordon Elliott pair Duffle Coat and Zanahiyr, who were the only two runners in the field who finished out their race with finishing speed percentage of over 107%.

The latter is the choice of Jack Kennedy. That probably wasn’t an easy decision but the Bective Stud-owned gelding is clearly potentially well handicapped in comparison to his hurdles mark and he has low mileage over fences thus far. The concern for me is not so much the trip, a furlong and a half longer now, but proving he can be as effective in a more stern test pace-wise with one or both of The Real Whacker and Flooring Porter likely to take this on from early.

In contrast to Zanahiyr and Duffle Coat, who has had an excellent summer campaign but is a little more exposed, Elliott’s other runner Chemical Energy was likely inconvenienced by the steady pace in Ballybrit. That summation is derived by his best run to date – finished second in the National Hunt Chase – and by the way he found his feet again late on, having been tapped for speed turning in.

I thought it was a good run in defeat but I have to confess here, this is a bit of a cliff horse for me. I think he was horribly unlucky to get beaten in the aforementioned Festival contest, with Mahler Mission’s late fall ridding him of something to aim at, only for the favourite Gaillard Du Mesnil to hunt him down late.

I’ve been looking to back him in a big handicap chase off his current mark since then but he needs decent ground and his opportunities have been limited with that parameter. Indeed, he ran well in this contest last year on yielding to soft and on a quicker surface, which seems likely on Wednesday, he can get closer, and rates a solid contender for me. You can bet him at 14/1 with a few firms, while AK Bets are going 11/1 at present but will be very competitive from early on Wednesday morning.

Top of the market

I’m a little surprised Flooring Porter isn’t favourite at the time of writing, with that mantle currently held by stablemate Perceval Legallois. That J.P. McManus runner looked to be travelling well into the Plate but failed to pick up as well as others up the hill and could only manage ninth. He is another who should be better off with a stronger test of stamina, and given he was sent off 7/2 at Galway (long viewed as well handicapped after falling when coming with a dangerous run in a handicap chase at the Dublin Racing Festival), you can see if plenty were willing to forgive that latest run.

Flooring Porter has a stronger case for me. He began his chasing career in fine style around this time last year, notably much too good for Broadway Boy at Cheltenham, but the wheels came off to an extent when he was chanced going right-handed for a Grade 2 at Punchestown, before finding Grangeclare West and Corbetts Cross too hot in a Grade 1 at Leopardstown over Christmas.

He was reverted back to hurdles then and put up a fine title defence in the Stayers Hurdle, illustrating he was close to his very best, if not his actual best given Teahupoo rated a fine winner. Back over fences, where he only has four runs to his name and was hardly disgraced at the highest level, he has a lot going for him now in a handicap chase, able to race off a chase mark which is 10lbs lower than his current hurdles assessment.

Other contenders

Last year’s winner Desertmore House is back for more off a 9lb higher mark and considering he seemed to be sized up for a Grand National bid last spring, you could make a case for him going back to back but he comes into the race off a different preparation this time.

Solitary Man is the one I think is quite underpriced (currently 8/1 best). With just four runs over fences, he clearly has the scope to improve but he’s already rated 143 over fences, 8lbs higher than he is over hurdles, and I’m not quite sure about the level of his summer novice chase form.

I have a similar sentiment for Horantzau D’airy who has a little more to prove after his latest effort – fell when well held at Killarney. Thecompanysergeant probably has a little stronger novice chase form, his second to Ashdale Bob at Kilbeggan reading well, while he beat Merlin Giant at Galway most recently. He needs two to come out to get a run.

Second selection

Churchstonewarrior is the most interesting of the longer-priced horses. Once of Jonathan Sweeney, he was a live contender for the National Hunt Chase two seasons ago before a late setback ruled him out. He struggled at the very highest level last term but showed he has ability on his final run when a relatively close seventh to Maxxum over hurdles at the Punchestown Festival.

He has been transferred to Cian Collins since and ran okay on his stable debut when third to Saylavee and Zanahiyr, meeting the latter on 8lb better terms now. Collins, a Kerry native, targeted this festival to good effect last season, and that initial run from Churchstonewarrior screamed of a warm-up for this. With cheekpieces added now, he is interesting enough to get on side at 33/1 and above.

If you’re having a bet on the Kerry National, please consider AK Bets for big prices and big limits