Lemonstown Lad set to finally get his head in front
The son of Catrail looked all over a winner at Tipperary last time. He attempted to make all the running and was clear into the straight.
But Tommy Stack’s highly rated Tolpuddle found an explosive turn of foot in the closing stages to cut down the leader and score by three parts of a length.
The form looks solid, considering the third was 20 lengths away, and Lemonstown Lad gets the vote to beat the useful, but sometimes unreliable, Tus Maith.
Aidan O’Brien’s once-raced Mikado will obviously be a popular choice in the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Maiden.
The son of Sadler’s Wells went off a 2-5 shot at Tipperary a week ago, but disappointed in finishing a length and a half second behind fellow first-timer, John Oxx’s Opera Comique.
He may well improve plenty for the experience, but preference is for Dermot Weld’s newcomer, Media Asset.
He is reportedly well regarded and is a son of Polish Precedent.
Feature event is the Smithwicks’ Beer Handicap Hurdle, but this is far too competitive to be in any way dogmatic regarding the likely outcome.
The vote falls on Michael Hourigan’s progressive Johnjo’s Express. He again ran well when two lengths runner-up to Doonaree (gave 7lbs) at Galway last time.
The Kevin McManus Beginners Chase may be best left to Noel Meade’s Kings Orchard, who has always shaped as if jumping fences would be his true calling.
Successful in a bumper and a maiden hurdle, he goes well on this ground and when fresh.
