Gaillard Du Mesnil

29th-Dec-2022

I think that the betting is wrong here, I would have had Gaillard Du Mesnil in as clear favourite in front of Three Stripe Life, and he is a bet for me at the price.

He hasn’t won yet over fences, but he was a dual Grade 1 winner over hurdles, and he put up some classy performances in defeat over fences last season, he was third behind L’Homme Presse in the Brown Advisory Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, and he finished third in the Irish Grand National. 

He ran a big race too in the Drinmore Chase on his debut this season.  He was well back in the field early on in a race in which the pace held up well, but he made good ground through his field and he was the only one who could challenge Mighty Potter in the end.  He couldn’t beat the winner for pace, but he kept on well to finish second behind him, well clear of the classy Banbridge.

That two-and-a-half-mile trip was surely too short for him, he should appreciate the step up in trip today to three miles.  His record at Leopardstown reads 113, and he could further enhance that record today.

Three Stripe Life if obviously a talented horse, and he may well win, but his form doesn’t have the solidity that Gaillard Du Mesnil’s has in my book.  I can see Amirite running well at a decent price, but Gaillard Du Mesnil is the bet.

GAILLARD DU MESNIL WON (ADV 13/8, SP 5/6)