Wednesday, February 22, 2012
MAGGIE CONNOLLY, a mare who clearly hasn’t been easy to train, can land the nap in the Festival Any Day Flexi Ticket Hurdle at Punchestown this afternoon.
Successful at the Limerick Christmas meeting of 2010, she has run just twice in the meantime and, indeed, only completed in one of those contests. The daughter of Definite Article actually reappeared at Limerick this Christmas — race won by Tillahow — but parted company with Emmet Mullins at the fourth.
Ruby Walsh was then in the plate for her latest attempt to get the show back on the road, this time at Fairyhouse. The selection was light in the market, but produced a promising enough effort to finish third behind Abou Ben and Darwins Fox.
The form is undoubtedly ordinary, but Maggie Connolly is entitled to improve plenty for that much-needed run and travelling an extra half mile now will work in her favour.
Willie Mullins trains Maggie Connolly and his Cousin Vinny returns from an absence of 671 days in the Festival Free Update Offer Ends Today Hurdle.
The nine-year-old is a class act and will surely make short work of these, if stripping anywhere close to his best.
Tofino Bay, runner-up behind Stephanie Kate at Clonmel six days ago, offers the most likely alternative.
There are 15 set to face the starter in the Festival Party Pack From 19euro Maiden Hurdle, but this looks a match between Competitive Edge and Double Double, even though you wouldn’t want to put your house on either!
The vote goes to Competitive Edge, a mildly disappointing fourth behind Aupcharlie at Leopardstown last time.
The third then, Maller Tree, gave the form a minor boost when scoring at Navan on Sunday and the fact Competitive Edge will be in receipt of 9lbs from Double Double sways one towards him.
Thynetocatcher, who appeared to be full of running when falling five out in the race won by Lisrose at Limerick, is the choice in the Mares’ Maiden Hurdle.
Kauto Star’s half-brother, Kauto Grand Mogol, is obviously worth a second glance in the four-year-old Bumper.
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