Zoom in on Zaralabad
He was very impressive at Bellewstown last time, on a heavy surface which should have been all against him.
The five-year-old, however, made light of the conditions, sluicing home eight lengths clear of useful yardstick, Fingers.
One couldn’t but be taken by the performance and there’s every chance the selection will strip an even better horse on today’s ground.
Swan could also have the answer to the Guinness Surge Novice Chase with Emmpat, who is rapidly approaching the veteran stage.
The 11-year-old remains in good heart though, running well here earlier in the week on the flat when third to Von Jawlensky.
Emmpat’s last outing over fences saw him quicken up in style when easily beating Dream Champion at Limerick.
In-form Archie Boy, with Ruby Walsh a significant booking, is the obvious danger. He meets Emmpat on 11lbs better terms than in a handicap, so has to be respected.
Archie Boy won nicely at Ffos Las on his latest appearance, but there is a suspicion he may be mildly flattered by impressive form figures and Emmpat can at least give him plenty to do.
Truckers Delight is fancied to produce a big run, under top weight, in the Edmond Whelan Memorial Handicap Hurdle.
He found plenty for pressure when getting off the mark at the first time of asking over fences at Stratford and prior to that was a creditable second to the durable Berties Dream at Galway.
All eyes, in the M J Carroll ARRO Maiden Hurdle, will be on Gavin Cromwell’s Crossdresser, who has been absent since attracting the attention of the stewards at the Punchestown Festival in April.
He was beaten three parts of a length and a short head into third behind No One Tells Me and Moville that day.
The stewards decided he had not been allowed to run on his merits and Cromwell was fined €2,000, the horse suspended for 60 days and rider, Shane McCann, for 21 days.
That was a better race than this and if the stewards got it right then Crossdresser should now deliver!
At Ballinrobe tomorrow classy bumper horse Rite Of Passge, third to Dunguib at Cheltenham, is the nap choice in the Michael Cawe Suspended Ceilings Maiden.
