Possible Scilly Isles option not ruled out for Impaire Et Passe

Impaire Et Passe is “ready to roll” next weekend, with Sandown’s Virgin Bet Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase entering the equation as a possible alternative to the Dublin Racing Festival.

A winner of nine of his 12 starts, Willie Mullins’ seven-year-old rediscovered the form that saw him score at the Cheltenham Festival in his novice hurdling days when winning hot races at both Aintree and Sandown in the spring last season.

He has continued to thrive since switching to the larger obstacles this term, following up a bloodless chasing bow at Fairyhouse by striking at the highest level at Limerick over Christmas.

Connections have been delighted by his smooth transition between disciplines and are now eyeing further Grade One success at either Leopardstown next Sunday in the Ladbrokes Novice or in Esher a day earlier.

“He’s entered at the Dublin Racing Festival but we might just give him an entry for the Scilly Isles at Sandown, just to give him another option,” said Anthony Bromley, racing manager to owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede.

“I imagine Willie will stay on home soil, he has five or six in the race and I imagine he will run all of them. He’s got the likes of Ballyburn, Champ Kiely and others in there.

“The entry for Sandown would just give us another option though, then we can have a think about it and decide through the week. He’s ready to roll.”

Bromley added: “I’ve been pleased how he’s been switching off in his races and he’s seeing them out well. He’s been finishing off much better than he ever did over hurdles last season and I think he’s a healthier horse this year – we’re excited to see him out again.”

Another of Munir and Souede’s ‘double green’ big guns is El Fabiolo, who has seen his season held up by a training setback but holds an entry for the Ladbrokes Dublin Chase.

However, a defence of the trophy he won at Leopardstown’s popular two-day meeting last year could come too soon for the eight-year-old, who has not been seen since finishing second in a clash with Jonbon at Sandown last April.

“I’m not getting quite the vibe he is going to run, he might be confirmed on Monday or Tuesday and then it all might depend on his next pieces of work,” continued Bromley.

“He’s getting closer to a run, but whether it will be at the Dublin Racing Festival, I’m not quite sure.”

Although a winner of the Arkle in 2023, El Fabiolo was a beaten favourite in the Champion Chase at last year’s Cheltenham Festival before also suffering the later reversal at the hands of Jonbon, which leaves connections toying with the idea of stepping up in trip at some stage in the near future.

Bromley added: “I think going up in trip might give him chance to jump a bit better and certainly at Sandown at the end of last season, two miles was putting him on his head a little bit, so I do think we need to think about going up in distance.

“I think for his first run of the season he will stick at two miles because he could be a bit free and he is a quite a bit of puller. We will see, but I do think we’ll try stepping him up at some stage.”

It has of course been a season of slight change for the Munir and Souede team with long-time retained jockey Daryl Jacob retiring and J J Slevin taking over the role.

Slevin is no stranger to donning the colours of Munir and Souede having guided Intense Raffles to Irish Grand National glory last year, but the owners have been delighted by the fast start he has made to the job in an official capacity.

“It’s been a very smooth transition from Daryl to J J,” said Bromley.

“He had already ridden quite a lot of winners for us anyway, but he has hit the ground running and the horses are running well. He’s already been in the winner’s enclosure at least four or five times since the announcement.

“It’s been seamless and a good marriage so far.”