Hartur D’arc

(Thomas Gibney)

Galway, October 28th

With one win from nine starts, Hartur D’arc had been a little bit disappointing over hurdles, but his first run over fences on the track was most encouraging at Galway last Saturday.

Facing more experienced rivals over a possibly inadequate two-mile-two-furlong trip, he looked to be just slightly out of his comfort zone for much of the journey, and couple that with a few slow jumps, he did very well to be still in the hunt turning for home, going down by just a neck to The Big Chap.

He cost £125,000 after a 17-length win at Loughanmore, and he may well come into his own now back over the bigger obstacles and perhaps over a longer trip. He seems versatile ground wise. (RG)

Falco Blitz

(Eric McNamara)

Galway, October 29th

Falco Blitz looks well handicapped now off a mark of 120 and there was enough about his run at Galway to suggest that, given the right conditions, he could exploit that rating. He was keen early in the extended two-mile-six-furlong handicap chase won by Natural Look, and having vied for the lead much of the journey, he only really gave way coming out of the double jump, just failing to see out the trip as well as three of his rivals. Coming back down in trip and a return to Limerick could be the trick. Arguably his best run last season was when he finished fourth to Maskada in the Tim Duggan Memorial at Christmas. He was rated 133 then, so would be attractively handicapped in the race this time, and his rating of 120 would have got him into the race last year as well. (RG)

Rushmount

(Jonathan Sweeney)

Thurles, November 2nd

Lecky Watson took all the headlines with his winning start in a two-mile-seven-furlong maiden hurdle at Thurles on Thursday but the runner-up Rushmount is surely the one to take out of the race for Cork trainer Jonathan Sweeney.

Making his track debut after a couple of runner-up efforts in point-to-points last spring, he made a big effort to get up to Shannon Royale from his mid-field position, and only just gave away to the odds-on favourite late on.

A 12/1 shot against the two main market protagonists, this was a big run first time up. He should come on plenty, from the experience and from the fitness gained, and he strikes me as a nice prospect for staying novice hurdles this season and as a chaser next term. (RG)