Eye Catchers February 2024

Syracus Du Houx – 6th in 3.40 Punchestown 18/02/24

Syracus Du Houx needs another quiet run to get a handicap mark and when he does he will pop up and is capable of winning a handicap. He finished second to What’s Up Darling in a Bumper back in May and he has shown decent form since.

Phillip Enright gave him a very sympathetic rise, enough that the stewards had a word with him after the race where he stated “the gelding didn’t finish out as well as expected”. He is one to note for any market support once handicapping. 

Teddy Blue – 4th in 2.25 Ascot 17/02/24

Teddy Blue is showing enough throughout the past few races to suggest he is getting closer to winning one of these valuable handicaps. He is a horse who prefers good ground and if it was to come up good at Cheltenham he could be a solid each way bet in one of the handicap hurdles.

He is back down to a mark of 131 after winning twice off marks of 128 in the past. Caoilin Quinn is a good 3 lbs claimer that rides for the Gary Moore yard and he would effectively have him running off his last winning mark. The key to this horse is the ground and on good ground he is competitively handicapped

Barrier – 3rd in 1.42 Gowran Park 17/02/24

Barrier looked like the winner of the four year old maiden hurdle at Gowran last Saturday before tiring up the straight to eventually finish third. He showed his inexperience over the first few hurdles before warming to the task and jumping pretty well after that.

I was at that meeting and the ground was horrendous. He led over the last and stopped to a walk after that. On better ground and with that run under his belt he is the horse to take out of the race and should be hard to beat on his next run. He is by no means a superstar but he can pick up a weak maiden similar to this.

Ocastle Des Mottes – 8th in 3.15 Newbury 10/02/24

Ocastle Des Mottes was a massive market mover over the days before this race and he was well touted by connections to the horse. I would imagine he is well handicapped off a mark of 133 in Britain. He had to be re-shod at the start and after behaving himself for the majority of that he eventually boiled over and I feel he lost his race before it started. His jumping held up well as this was his first time jumping these types of hurdles in public. He travelled well until the second last and Daryl Jacob wasn’t over hard on him when he knew he wasn’t going to win. He is a horse I wouldn’t discount just yet.

L’Eau Du Sud – 2nd in 3.15 Newbury 10/02/24

L’Eau Du Sud was desperately unlucky to bump into a well handicapped Iberico Lord. The pair were over 8 lengths clear of the third Go Dante. The handicapper has raised L’Eau Du Sud 6 lbs for coming second but I feel he is still capable of winning off that mark. He travelled on the wide outside throughout this race and showed a nice turn of foot to quicken from the second last. He was in front long enough and just got out stayed by a thorough stayer in Iberico Lord who needed every yard of that trip on what I would describe as heavy holding ground.

David’s Well – 5th in 12.55 Newbury 10/02/24

David’s Well caught my attention when finishing fifth of thirteen at Newbury in the Novices’ Hurdle. He travelled sweetly under jockey Rex Dingle and jumped fast and accurately. I would imagine he will have another spin around before going for a handicap. Rex Dingle allowed the leaders to get away from him before looking for anything off his horse. He then pulled him in behind a horse before running on again when the race was over. He should be capable of winning a few races and a step up in trip should be no issue for him.

So Scottish – 4th in 3.50 Leopardstown 04/02/24

So Scottish was an eye catcher finishing fourth in the 2 miles handicap hurdle on ground he wouldn’t have favoured. If the ground was to come up good at Cheltenham I would back him for whatever handicap he goes for. I also like the fact that his previous run before this was at Cheltenham where he fell four out.

Obviously it was not ideal to fall but the fact they brought him over to get more course experience are all indications he is being lined up for a race next month. If the weather dries up he is well handicapped in my opinion.

Perceval Legallois – Fell in 3.20 Leopardstown 04/02/24

Perceval Legallois was very unlucky to come down over the final fence in the O’ Driscolls Irish Whiskey Handicap Chase at Leopardstown. It was his first run in a handicap chase off a mark of 135 and I feel he would have given Heartwood a race to the line if he had stayed up. As it turned out Heartwood ran out a comprehensive winner and has gone up 12 lbs in the handicap to a mark of 148.

Perceval Legallois was raised just 2 lbs and there is definitely a nice handicap in him off that mark. He would have learnt plenty for the run and his jumping should hopefully improve as he was sticky over a few of his fences. He has form on all ground and will also stay 3 miles.

Majborough – 3rd in 1.50 Leopardstown 03/02/24

Majborough ran a lovely race for his first run in Ireland in the Spring Juvenile Hurdle. That was his first run since joining Willie Mullins from France and he looks a fine big horse who has a bright future ahead of him. He is now 10/1 best price for the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham although I do feel Sir Gino will be very hard to beat in that.

It wouldn’t be the worst each way play in that race as all of those that finished around him in this had the benefit of a run and there is likely to be more improvement in him than the others. Also he is not overly keen so he can be positioned prominently out of trouble if need be as many of these Juveniles can be buzzy types.