1.53 Renvyle House Hotel 3-Y-O Maiden Hurdle 2m 90yds
French flat recruit Magic Thunder was sent off a short-priced favourite on hurdle bow, but was fading when crashing out at the second last. Set The Tone finished a close third in the same race, but it was the amusingly-named Out For A Stroll that caught the eye, almost last turning in and flying home from the final flight.
Useful flat performer Messerschmitt was also well-backed on his hurdle debut and can be forgiven for jinking and unseating at the sixth, with a loose horse possibly distracting him.
Edward Buckley’s Ceol Draiochta was headed close home in a similar contest on debut, with Turn And Finish and Robbies Rock also benefitting from hurdling experience. Dahab has shown promise on the flat, while the National Hunt-bred Maxios Prime is a rare commodity here, but her €1,000 foal price doesn’t inspire confidence.
SELECTION: OUT FOR A STROLL
Next best: Messerschmitt
2.28 Connolly’s RED MILLS Irish EBF Auction Maiden Hurdle 2m 90yds
Gordon Elliott described Kish Bank as “a horse for the future” following his bumper win 10 months ago and the impressive point-to-point winner has had plenty of time to fill out his reportedly massive frame.
A longer absence is the worry regarding fellow four-year-old maiden winner Downmexicoway, but he appears to have the upper hand in terms of class to Stuntman Steve, who pulled up or fell on all his point starts before a maiden victory in May.
Last season’s hurdle form is encouraging for Mi Lucky Cailin, as is the bumper win of Custom Taylor, whereas Arctic Gale’s best hurdle performances have come over farther.
SELECTION: KISH BANK
Next best: Custom Taylor
3.00 Corrib Oil Maiden Hurdle 2m 90yds
Gavin Cromwell is three-handed, his three-time bumper second Addragoole of obvious appeal, while Bridie’s Beau is an interesting debutante, having placed on both his starts for Paul Nicholls. The €95,000 buy is bred to be talented, being by Blue Bresil and out of a Grade 2 winner.
Gordon Elliott’s recruit Sporting Glory is also intriguing, fetching £120,000 as part of Steve Parkin’s National Hunt dispersal. The Fairyhouse bumper winner ran a fine fourth in a Grade 2 on hurdle bow back in March.
Their promise outweighs that of the improving Seskin Flash.
SELECTION: SPORTING GLORY
Next best: Bridie’s Beau
3.38 SANSERV Rated Novice Chase 2m 2f 54yds
Course-and-distance winner The Other Mozzie is an obvious contender, though today’s weights play in favour of the third horse, Will Do.
Sportinthepark is another who made a promising seasonal return, on what was his second start over fences, but that was over four furlongs farther, while his hurdle win came over two furlongs farther.
The trip may also be an issue for blacktype chaser Battle It Out, who is by far the most experienced of these over fences.
Metersandmasks faced a mammoth task on chase debut following an 858-day absence, and wasn’t disgraced, but this isn’t exactly easy, either.
SELECTION: WILL DO
Next best: Battle It Out
4.13 W.B. Gavin & Co. Handicap Hurdle 2m 5f 200yds
Shoot First was favourite for the Pertemps Network Hurdle, having been put away after winning a qualifier, but missed Cheltenham following a setback.
Nearest behind him in the qualifier was Botox Has, who subsequently won three graded hurdles, while the fourth horse went on to finish second in the Final.
If he’s fit today, his class should beat the next in the ratings, four-time hurdle winner Zeeband. Listed chase winner Hgranca De Thaix is of interest, as he returns to hurdles, his only win over timber coming by 17 lengths here over three furlongs shorter.
Four Clean Aces, fourth in a listed race last time, shaped like this step up in trip would suit and appears Mullins’ leading hope on jockey bookings.
SELECTION: SHOOT FIRST
Next best: Four Clean Aces
4.45 COLM QUINN BMW Handicap Hurdle 3m
No obvious highlights in this 20-runner affair for horses rated between 80 and 95. Market support will be informative, as it was when Beggars Rock finished a well-backed second in August, having previously been beaten 25 lengths and upwards over hurdles.
Declan Queally cited the 90-day break as key to his charge’s improvement that day and, following a disappointing effort three weeks ago, it’s hard to be sure which version will turn up today.
Max Time was a welcome winner for his team at this year’s Galway Festival, but was beaten 93 lengths last time out on softer ground, and rain is forecast ahead of today’s meeting. The same should be taken into account with Oskar High, successful on good-to-yielding ground here last month.
Delias Pet is another course winner and shaped fitter last time out, while Mahler Appeal is another who comes here in good form. Meehall was third, beaten 18 lengths, in this 12 months ago, but has posted better performances since.
SELECTION: MAHLER APPEAL
Next best: Meehall
5.18 Joe O’Gorman Memorial (C & G) (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race 2m 90yds
Colcannon leads the way on form, particularly based on his impressive 11-length ‘win’ in February, for which he was disqualified after his rider weighed in light. He benefits from Derek O’Connor on board, but may prefer softer conditions than expected today.
The form of Gaoithe Glory’s yard is faultless, and his debut second was boosted by the winner following up in good style.
That Danny Feeling justified late support with a debut third over hurdles last month, while Heads Up’s price on debut suggested that he is capable more than he showed last month.
O’Bon Pardon entered the notebook when outrunning odds of 50/1 when sixth in the valuable Goffs Defender Bumper.
SELECTION: COLCANNON
Next best: Gaoithe Glory
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