Cut The Mustard is a confident choice for the listed BBA Ireland Limited Opera Hat Mares Chase, the most valuable prize of on offer at Naas today.
Willie Mullins has won three of the last four renewals of this event (Benie Des Dieux landed the prize in 2018). In Cut The Mustard he appears to have an ideal candidate to extend Closutton’s record in this two-miler.
An accomplished hurdler – she finished sixth to stable-companion Mr Adjudicator, off a mark of 132, in a valuable handicap hurdle at the Punchestown Festival on her final start last season – she has done nothing wrong in her two outings over fences, scoring on her fencing debut at Limerick’s Christmas meeting, when powering clear to triumph by 14 lengths.
Stepped into Grade 2 company in a Coolmore-sponsored mares event at Thurles last month, Cut The
Mustard made progress through the field to lead at the second last before being headed by stable-companion Elimay on the approach to the final obstacle, where the selection blundered, before being beaten nine lengths into second place.
Significantly Cut The Mustard’s chief threat today, Gordon Elliott’s, inset, Tintangle, finished more than 50 lengths behind the selection on that occasion.
That wasn’t a true reflection of Tintangle’s ability. But she has been disappointing this season, sports
first-time blinkers today and might chase home Cut The Mustard.
In the Ardstone Homes Supporting Kill GAA Rated Novice Hurdle, the Jessica Harrington-trained French
import Gin On Lime, on her second start in Ireland, is preferred to the Elliott pair Aramax and Recent Rendezvous.
Successful at Clairefontaine on her only start for Guillaume Macaire in France, the selection made her Irish debut in a very competitive Grade 3 mares event at Fairyhouse two weeks ago, facing some tough older rivals.
Receiving all the allowances, she ran creditably before losing touch with the principals from the second last, ultimately finishing over 12 lengths fourth behind Minella Melody, Colreevy and Dolcita.
Expected to improve from that run this Doctor Dino filly might have the edge over Aramax, third to Wolf Prince at Fairyhouse on his second Irish start, and convincing Cork winner Recent Rendezvous.
Peter O'Hehir's tips
1.05. Mount Hanover
1.37. Cut The Mustard (Nap)
2.12. Gin On Lime
2.47. Entoucas
3.22. Bythesametoken
3.57. Aione
4.32. San Salvador
Next Best
1.05. Velocity Boy
1.37. Tintangle
2.12. Aramax
2.47. Village Mystic
3.22. Yafordadoe
3.57. Russian Diamond
4.32. Blazing Khal
Double: Cut The Mustard and Entoucas.
O’Hehir’s Longshot: Wajaaha (3.22)
