Irish Horses In Focus: Rite of Passage, Tawaagg and Glenanelucy.

Ireland / Timeform / 01 February 2010 / Leave a comment

Dermot Weld, trainer of leading Cheltenham prospect Rite Of Passage

With the Cheltenham Festival now less than seven weeks away, Timeform's Irish team have identified some horses in focus from the Emerald Isle that are likely to be of interest come March.

"Tawaagg should continue to go well in two-mile handicaps, with the County Hurdle a logical aim."

Rite of Passage is hardly an original selection but it would be foolish to leave Dermot Weld's exciting novice out of our list. Last season's Champion Bumper won by Dunguib has subsequently proven to be one of the strongest for years, with third-placed Rite of Passage, doing his bit for the form in no uncertain terms. Rite of Passage made his comeback in September on the Flat, winning a maiden at Ballinrobe, he then turned the traditionally competitive November Handicap at Leopardstown into a rout, giving Grade 2 winning hurdler Donnas Palm an 8-length beating. The six-year-old then returned to Leopardstown for his eagerly-anticipated hurdling bow and justified prohibitive odds in good style, warming to his task in the jumping department as the race wore on and readily asserting from Grey Soldier after the last. His connections face a difficult decision in choosing which of the novice hurdles he contests at the Festival, but whichever he lines up in, he'll certainly command the utmost respect.

The previous day saw the rearranged MCR Hurdle (formerly the Pierse) take place, and whilst the race went to Puyol, we believe the one to take out of that contest is the Willie Mullins-trained Tawaagg. The lightly-raced six-year-old posted a career-best effort when, runner-up to Puyol on his handicap debut, finishing strongly and doing particularly well to get as close as he did, having still had at least as many rivals in front as behind when forced wide before two out. Tawaagg should continue to go well in two-mile handicaps, with the County Hurdle a logical aim.

One who won't be Cheltenham bound is Glenanelucy, and with form figures for this season reading P786, she might not be an obvious one to want on side when sent handicapping, but she's shaped better in maiden hurdles than those finishing positions suggest and, she promises to be of interest in the coming weeks for her shrewd connections. Set plenty to do when a staying-on sixth behind Lou's Coole Girl at Limerick last time, Glenanelucy looks set to come into her own when returned to two-and-a-half miles and beyond.