Mr Warbucks can win battle
He has been chasing of late, mixing it with the best novices we have in this country in the Grade 1 Drinmore Chase at Fairyhouse last time.
The selection ran well for a long way, before finding the opposition too hot to handle and trailing in a well-beaten fourth of four finishers behind Pandorama.
Prior to that Mr Warbucks produced a smart effort to beat Whatuthink over fences at Thurles and was a creditable third to Cuan Na Grai and Clear Riposte over flights at Tipperary.
Mouse Morris’ Shane Rock, a horse on the upgrade, can provide the answer to the Kanturk Maiden Hurdle.
He showed little on his debut, but then ran a cracker when fourth to Moville at Navan, a race which has been working out quite well.
Shane Rock’s latest appearance was at Leopardstown last Sunday, falling at the second last, the final flight was omitted, when bang in contention in the race won by the impressive Charlie Swan-trained Prince Of Fire.
The first division of the McCarthy Insurance Group Maiden Hurdle can go to The Book Thief, even if two miles is on the short side.
Successful in a Kilbeggan bumper, he made a satisfactory debut over flights when fifth to Seven Days at Cork last month and this represents a drop in class.
Naas was covered in snow yesterday and there will be a 10am inspection this morning to see if tomorrow’s programme can go ahead.
The exciting Sports Line is the nap choice in the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Novice Chase. He was only marking time over hurdles and gave a brilliant exhibition of jumping when making a winning debut over fences to the tune of nine lengths at Navan.
Willie Mullins trains Sports Line and his Quel Esprit is impossible to oppose in the Grade 2 Goffs’ Slaney Novice Hurdle.
He was no more than workmanlike when scoring at Punchestown, but looked a real star of the future when never leaving second gear to win at Cork subsequently.
The Bumper is best left to Noel Meade’s newcomer, Lavis, prevented by the fog from making his debut at Leopardstown on Monday. He was certainly the medium of some encouraging reports then.
