Lad can leave his chase rivals in the shade
Four handicaps, a claimer and a maiden hurdle (for mares) leaves very little cause for optimism.
Enda Bolger’s Shady Lad is a hopeful nap choice in the Laurels Handicap Chase. He ran twice at the Punchestown Festival, enjoying contrasting fortunes.
He started by parting company with Ruby Walsh at the second in the hunter chase won by Native Beat.
The selection turned out again two days later to run a cracker in the four mile plus La Touche Cup.
This time he managed to negotiate most of the obstacles and was destined for a creditable runner-up spot, behind impressive stable companion, Buailtes And Fadas, when blundering at the final fence.
The Derrinstown Stud Apprentice Claiming Race is best left to Austin Leahy’s three-year-old, All First.
She hinted at ability on a couple of occasions last season and there was plenty to like about the manner in which the daughter of Alhaarth stayed on when third behind Guest Artist over nine furlongs at Ballinrobe last week.
Fiddlers Bar gets the nod to provide the solution to the opening EBF Maiden Hurdle.
She stepped up on previous efforts with a 15 lengths bumper success at Listowel last month.
Declan Gillespie’s Key To The Kingdom, a close third to Styler and Fascinating at Tipperary, shouldn’t be too far away in the Ross Golf Club Handicap.
