Dr PJ Moriarty Novice Chase (Grade 1) Preview – 7th February

The 2m 5f Moriarty Chase is arguably the most fascinating race on Sunday’s Leopardstown card with each of the participants worthy of their place in the lineup. If the race was staged over 2miles or 3miles I would be confident of having a bet, with Zaarito and Weapons Amnesty standing out in each category. However with the intermediate trip on Sunday it becomes a much more difficult puzzle to solve.

Zaarito has to prove he stays this distance and also has to show that he suffers no ill effects from his early fall in the Arkle Chase here two weeks ago. On form he is the standout horse in this context with his Navan run behind Captain Cee Bee being franked many times since. Of all the horses in the lineup he is the one I could genuinely see going close at the festival.

Weapons Amnesy took time to get the hang of things when sent chasing this season but has improved with each run and deserves his high ranking position in the antepost market for the RSA Chase. He would definitely prefer further over fences however and will surely be vulnerable to one with more toe. A staying on second or third here would increase confidence in his Cheltenham chances.

Roberto Goldback was an impressive winner last time and had previously beaten Cousin Vinny at Navan(reopposes on Sunday). Jessica Harringtons charge seems better suited to the intermediate trip then any of the others and won a Grade 2 Novice Hurdle here over the trip last season beating Weapons Amnesty. This way well be his “Gold Cup” on Sunday and I believe he is the most likely winner.

Cousin Vinny needs to improve his jumping on evidence to date. The former high class bumper horse is similar to another runner, Aranleigh, in that it has taken him time to get to grips with the larger obstacles. Both are high class horses at their very best and victory for either would not be a surprise although they will need to step up on form to date. Oscar Looby and Lenabane have done nothing wrong since switching codes and look faster learners than the other two but need to improve to trouble the three at the head of the market.

Summary: In a race that should evolve around Zaarito, Weapons Amnesty and Roberto Goldback, prefernce is for the latter who should be ideally suited to the 2m 5f trip and has already shown high class form over fences.

Posted by John on February 5, 2010. Filed under Race Previews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.