Catch Me set for Hatton’s Grace glory
There aren’t any high-class stayers over flights in this country at the moment, but all the evidence is that Edward O’Grady’s seven-year-old is the best we have to offer.
He has tried chasing of late and is unlucky not to be unbeaten in two races. Catch Me made a good start at Cork and was then set to deliver at Navan subsequently, but for falling at the final fence.
Dunguib, a brilliant bumper horse, has yet to capture the imagination over jumps, even if he did stroll to victory at Galway and Punchestown.
The six-year-old now faces his moment of truth, in the Bar One Racing Royal Bond Novice Hurdle. Philip Fenton’s charge has, however, been put in at ridiculous odds by the ante-post layers, taking on a pair of smart horses in Sweeps Hill and Some Present.
You couldn’t possibly be too dogmatic regarding the likely outcome of the Drinmore Chase, with the nod falling on Whatuthink, who did well to score over an inadequate two miles at Thurles.
Willie Mullins can continue his tremendous form by saddling a double with The Midnight Club and Mourad at Fairyhouse today.
The Midnight Club is the nap choice to make a winning debut over fences in the Murphy Signs Beginners Chase.
He was very progressive over hurdles last season, finishing with a game victory at the Punchestown Festival, and promises to be a far better chaser.
Mourad is fancied to have the legs on Donnas Palm in the Ryans’ Cleaning Event Specialists Hurdle.
He warmed up for this with a spin on the all-weather at Dundalk on Wednesday night and has 9lbs in hand, at the weights, on his principal rival.
Noel Meade’s Cross Appeal is the one to beat in the Winter Festival Juvenile three-year-old Hurdle.
He had to dig deep when scrambling to a head defeat of Doctor Deejay at Thurles last month, but the lightly-raced gelding should come on a bundle for the experience.
Meade can complete a double with Monastrell, who beat Thursday’s Thurles winner, Cass Bligh, in a bumper at Down Royal, in the Meath 1996 and 1999 All Ireland Maiden Hurdle.
Tornedo Shay made a big impression when scoring by eight lengths at Galway and gets the vote in the Bumper.
