Racing: Prince Of Tara looks poised to make amends
THE classy Prince Of Tara will be the focus of much attention in the opening Athgarvan Hurdle at Punchestown today.
His latest outing saw him fall at the second last - he was in front at the time - in a competitive handicap won by Ballyamber at Fairyhouse.
It is Prince Of Tara’s previous effort, however, which marks him down as the proverbial good thing against this opposition. At Navan he ran Bannow Bay to a neck and that horse just failed behind Baracouda at Cheltenham this week.
The Kilcullen Novice Hurdle has a wide open appearance, but a little on Willie Mullins’ One Night Out might reap a dividend. He went down by a neck to Polar Vista (levels) at Down Royal and can reverse the placings on these altered terms. Copernicus gets the nap to take the Carnalway Novice Chase.
He’s been knocking on the door for a while and wasn’t disgraced at Naas when third to Colonel Braxton and Youlneverwalkalone.
Resolute Approach, who made an excellent debut when third to Greywell at Navan, has to get the nod to win the Bumper.
The fare at Limerick this afternoon is moderate, but Tony Mullins’ Dutch Lad should oblige in the maiden hurdle.
He was well supported in the market when beaten a length and a half by I Got It at Leopardstown.
Both the third and fourth, Johnston’s Flyer and Micksie Palmer respectively, have scored in the meantime.
At Punchestown tomorrow Woodenbridge Natif is napped to defy top weight in the Eadestown GAA Handicap Chase. He went up 3lbs, after finishing a length second to Timbera at Fairyhouse, but the form got a big boost when Timbera was narrowly beaten by Rith Dubh in the National hunt Chase at Cheltenham.
Kimberley looks very much the right one in the Beginners Chase. Beaten a length by Brigade Charge at Fairyhouse, he had his principal rival now, Lights And Music, three lengths away in third spot.
The Galway Man, who beat the subsequent winners Whithworth Ben and Multeen River decisively at Leopardstown, can hardly be opposed in the Bumper.
At Limerick tomorrow Beef Or Salmon should get back on the winning trial in the Mellion Stud Environment Friend Novice Hurdle.
He ran no sort of race behind Like A Butterfly in the Deloitte and Touche at Leopardstown, but is a much better horse than that.
Prolific winner Instant Queen, who produced a fine weight carrying performance at Thurles on her last appearance, can do the business again in the Dawn Milk Mares Novice Chase.
