Listen Dear the standout bet on a big weekend

Much as I would love to ride Douvan in the Hilly Way Chase in Cork tomorrow, I can’t be in two places at once, and so I’ll be in Punchestown to ride Djakadam in the John Durkan Memorial. It’s a Grade 1 race, the biggest race of the day, and that’s the reason I’m going there.

Before that, though, I have five rides this afternoon in Navan, starting on C’est Jersey in the opener. He was second on his only start over hurdles in France, schools well, and goes well at home. But whether he’ll be good enough to beat Chirico Vallis, who was second to Peace News, is the question. But we have had a few maiden hurdle winners lately, and hopefully this fellow will give a good account of himself.

Pravalaguna starts off for us in the mares’ maiden hurdle and, as she won on the flat over a mile and seven furlongs, she should be able to cope with two and a half miles today. But coping with Three Swallowsnick is a different ball game. Gordon’s mare’s bumper form is very good, and she’s a point to point winner. Our filly works well at home but you’d be a brave man to say she’d beat Three Swallowsnick.