Mikael On Target For RSA Chase

Despite failing to winning any of his three outings so far over fences, former top-class novice hurdler Mikael d’Haguenet has been confirmed an intended runner in the RSA Chase at Cheltenham on March 16, writes Elliot Slater.

After establishing himself as the best novice hurdler in Britain & Ireland during the 2008/9 season, remaining undefeated in six starts that included three Grade 1s, (most notably the Ballymore Properties Novice Hurdle at the 2009 Cheltenham Festival where he defeated Karabak by three lengths, then seven weeks later his four-length defeat of Cousin Vinny in the Land Rover Champion Novice Hurdle at the Punchestown Festival), the Willie Mullins-trained seven-year-old was sidelined with injury for more than 18 months before returning to the fray this season as a budding novice chaser.

Thrown straight in at the deep end, the Lavirco gelding was sent off 6/4f to make a winning debut in the Grade 1 Drinmore Novices’ Chase at Fairyhouse in December and looked set to justify the hype until falling when leading narrowly at the final fence in the race eventually won by Jessies Dream.

In hindsight he was probably asked to race again too quickly when sent to Leopardstown a fortnight later for another Grade 1 chase and was beaten a long way from home, trailing in fifth of the eight runners behind Realt Dubh. The most up to date RSA chase betting suggests he’ll have to show a significant improvement if he win at Cheltenham.

Sent off favourite to break his duck over fences at the third time of asking at Leopardstown in mid-February, Mikael D’Haguenet appeared to still be going well enough when hampered at the second last by the fall of his stable companion Quel Esprit and eventually was beaten six-lengths into third behind Boston’s Angel, in the Dr PJ Moriarty Novices’ Chase.

It’s fair to say that so far the former leading young hurdler has been out of luck over the larger obstacles but he has shown he still retains plenty of ability. After working satisfactorily after racing at Leopardstown on Sunday he has been given the green light to take his chance in the three-mile novice chase championship and is currently on offer at odds up to 16/1.

Tags: cheltenham, Mikael d'Haguenet, RSA chase, rsa chase cheltenham, rsa chase runnersShare