Dublin Racing Festival: Options open for Ile Atlantique

Connections of Ile Atlantique are happy to leave Dublin Racing Festival running plans for their exciting novice chaser to Willie Mullins.

Owned by Brighton & Hove Albion chief Tony Bloom, Ile Atlantique created a taking impression when scooping Grade Two honours over the minimum distance at Naas earlier this month, downing a useful field that included Grade One-winning hurdlers Firefox (second) and Inthepocket (third).

However, he also made a faultless chasing debut over an extended two and a half miles earlier in the season, with his versatility meaning he has been handed entries for both the Goffs Irish Arkle Novice Chase and Ladbrokes Novice Chase over an intermediate trip at Leopardstown early next month.

A decision on which race he tackles will be made by the master of Closutton, but the Ile Atlantique team would not be afraid of sticking at the minimum trip given the slick jumping he advertised superbly at Naas.

“Willie probably won’t make up his mind until declaration stage, but we’re fine with that and we’re happy for the horse to go in the best possible race to suit him,” said Sean Graham, Bloom’s racing manager.

“It was a very pleasing performance at Naas and I wouldn’t be put off going for the Arkle at the DRF and seeing if we have an Arkle horse because he jumps so well and the one thing that will keep him involved in these races is his jumping.

“The horse won over almost two-miles-six at Navan on chasing debut and that is a really stiff track. Willie said Leopardstown at Christmas would come a bit soon for him and when I saw he was entered over two miles at Naas I raided my eyebrows a bit and wondered if he would have the speed to win over two.

“I thought coming down to two out that Inthepocket would do us for a turn of foot, but Paul (Townend) said he jumped the last two fences well and on the run-in all he had to do is flick the reins at him and he ran away from them.”

Always held in high regard by those closest to him, Ile Atlantique was a regular at Grade One level during his season novice hurdling and despite some criticism regarding his end-of-year results, it came as no surprise to see him bounce back to his very best.

Graham added: “I think people were a bit hard on the horse last year saying he was a bit soft and what not, but he was only a shell and a frame and although his form did tail off in the spring, that was when the ground dried out and he would definitely prefer some juice in the ground – the softer the better.

“He’s a horse we won’t be over-racing this year and maybe he will turn out to be a two-miler, a three-miler or maybe even both. But we know he is versatile and on soft ground I think we would be happy running him over any trip.”