Dublin Racing Festival next up for Ile Atlantique as connections weigh up Grade 1 options for unbeaten chaser
Unbeaten chaser Ile Atlantique has the Dublin Racing Festival next on the agenda after his sparkling performance in the Grade 2 Racing Post Novice Chase at Naas this month and connections feel he is much more the finished article this season over fences.
The Willie Mullins-trained seven-year-old ran some admirable races in his novice hurdle campaign, most notably when collared late on by Readin Tommy Wrong in the Grade 1 Lawlor's of Naas before finishing third behind Ballyburn in the Gallagher Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Ile Atlantique finished off the campaign with a couple of lesser efforts at Aintree and Punchestown but has been flawless over fences in two starts, landing a 2m4½f beginners' chase at Navan in impressive style before dropping back in trip at Naas, where he defeated Firefox by five lengths.
Sean Graham, racing manager to owner Tony Bloom, was pleasantly surprised with the turn of foot he showed at Naas. He said: "People were crabbing him a bit last season, saying he was a bit of a softie but he was a big, raw horse then.
"He ran really well in the Lawlor's of Naas. He did all the donkey work that day and got beaten by a horse who came off the pace. He went to Cheltenham to take on Ballyburn, who was in the form of his life, before going to Aintree and Punchestown, but he was a big, weak horse and the ground drying out were factors why his form tailed off.
"I spoke to Willie before he ran at Navan and he said he had got bigger and stronger, he was very complimentary. He did it well at Navan and when Willie dropped him back to two miles at Naas, I wondered whether Inthepocket would have too much speed for us, but Paul said he attacked his fences and showed a great turn of foot. The key to him is softish ground.
"The one thing about him is his jumping. Paul said he was gaining half a length or a length at every fence. He was in front but was taking a tug after every fence as he didn't want to set the race up for anyone else but also wanted to use his jumping as an advantage."
Ile Atlantique will take up one of his entries in the 2m1f Irish Arkle or the 2m5½f Ladbrokes Novice Chase at Leopardstown next month, but given his versatility a decision will be made closer to the time.
Graham said: "He's entered in the Irish Arkle and the Ladbrokes Novice Chase at the Dublin Racing Festival. Willie stuck him in both and he'll make his mind up closer to the time. If he runs in the two-mile race, he takes on Majborough or he could take on Impaire Et Passe in the longer race."
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