Dreal Deal’s swift and occasionally controversial rise through the ranks continued on Sunday, as he passed all six of his rivals in the home straight to win the Grade Two Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle at Punchestown, establishing himself as a live 16-1 chance for Cheltenham’s Supreme Novice Hurdle.
Ronan McNally’s gelding first attracted attention when he won a handicap hurdle at Navan in September off a mark of 84, having been backed in from 20-1 to 6-4 favourite. He then won two handicaps on the Flat (off 45 and 51) before adding two more handicap hurdles from official marks of 106 and 111, starting at odds-on each time.
Dreal Deal’s price went in the opposite direction on Sunday, however, as he set off at 22-1 after opening at 9-1. He was several lengths behind the rest of the field for much of the race but accelerated impressively turning for home, crossing the line three lengths in front of Ganapathi. After the race, McNally outlined a series of possible reasons for Dreal Deal’s weakness in the market and set his sights on the Festival.
“That was the dream, but he had to go and do that today,” McNally said. “We had a poor preparation, because he got a stone bruise during the week and that’s why he didn’t go to Fairyhouse [on Tuesday].
“All my horses were a wee bit off around Christmas and then with the frost, they missed work as well, so to be honest he’d done no galloping,” the Irish trainer said. “Also his coat wasn’t great the last couple of weeks, and he hasn’t eaten as well as he could. Nothing really was clicking, but we needed to get a run into him. I knew anything he did today, that he’d go forward from it.”
Quick Guide
Monday’s tips, by Greg Wood
Lingfield
12.15 Rose Ohara
12.45 Miss Austen
1.15 Not That Fuisse
1.45 Timberman
2.20 Getariver
2.50 Aronius
3.25 Mystic Dreamer
3.55 Vegas Blue
Ayr
12.25 Bass Rock
12.55 Gold Miner
1.25 Cornerstone Lad
1.55 Strong Economy (nap)
2.30 Skipping On
3.00 Hot Gossip
3.35 Made For You
4.05 Fortescue Wood
Wolverhampton
4.10 Livia The Empress (nb)
4.40 Lethal Lunch
5.10 It Must Be Faith
5.40 Jumira Bridge
6.10 Rainbow Dreamer
6.40 Power Of States
7.10 Wallem
7.40 Critical Thinking
8.10 City Escape
A much-anticipated meeting between Envoi Allen and the Grade One-winning hurdler Asterion Forlonge in the Killiney Novice Chase fell flat, Asterion Forlonge falling after a clumsy attempt to get over the first fence.
Envoi Allen, the 1-2 favourite at Punchestown, did not need to leave second gear to extend his unbeaten career record to a dozen races. He is around even-money to make it 13 out of 13 in the Marsh Novice Chase at Cheltenham in March.
“He’s in everything at Leopardstown [in February] for fear something happened [with Covid restrictions on travel],” Gordon Elliott, Envoi Allen’s trainer, said, “but I’d say we’d go straight to Cheltenham.”