Racing: weights released for BoyleSports Hurdle at Leopardstown
Tuesday 6 January 2015 12:05, UK
McKinley, shock winner of a Grade One novice event at Naas on Sunday, has been given 11st 2lb in the Boylesports Hurdle at Leopardstown on January 18.
The five-year-old is one of six entries for Willie Mullins as Ireland's champion trainer seeks to win this valuable prize for a third time in five years and a fourth time in all.
Mullins' other possibles are Daneking (11st 1lb), Lucky Bridle (11st 1lb), Clondaw Warrior (10st) and Valyssa Monterg (9st 13lb).
Arthur Moore, a six-times BoyleSports Hurdle winner, has just Sea Beat (9st 12lb) this time in a 42-strong race entry.
Gordon Elliott has yet to strike, but is giving it a good shot with five in the list headed by top-weight Tiger Roll (11st 10lbs), last year's JCB Triumph Hurdle hero.
Elliott, who saddled last year's runner-up Flaxen Flare, has also entered Shadow Catcher (10st 9lb), Fort Smith (9st 12lb), Roll It Out (9st 10lb) and Rocky Wednesday (9st 4lb).
Successful with Xenophon in 2003, Tony Martin has four chances - Ted Veale (11st 4lb), Savello (10st 8lb), Shemshal (10st 3lb) and Elishpour (10st).
The last British-trained winner was Jenny Pitman's Master Tribe in 1997 and there are four UK entries his time round.
John Quinn is responsible for three - Fisher (11st 1lb), Forced Family Fun (10st 9lb) and Kashmir Peak (10st 8lb).
Nicky Henderson has entered Snake Eyes (10st 5lb), who is the early favourite at 8-1 with the sponsors.
Moore will try to boost his enviable record in the BoyleSports Handicap Chase, formerly known as the Leopardstown Handicap Chase, on the same card for which they were 27 entries.
He has entered three horses this time, Fever Pitch (9st 12lb), Treat Yourself (9st 10lb) and Back Off Mate (9st 9lb).
The Colin McBratney-trained Marito tops the weights on 11st 10lb with the Ted Walsh-trained Foxrock on 11st 8lb.
Willie Mullins has three in mind - Djakadam (11st 4lb), Dogora 10st 11lb) and Abbey Lane (10st 5lb).
Last year's winner He'llberemembered, trained by Paul Fahey, has been given 10st 10lb. Other interesting contenders include the Martin-trained Sraid Padraig (10st 13lb), Noel Meade's Down Ace (10st 1lb) and Enda Bolger's Federici (9st 10lb).
