Guest can break three year losing streak
Niall Madden is a significant booking for Pat Flynn’s eight-year-old, who comes here in good shape, following an encouraging display at Galway. The selection finished a creditable fourth of 18 behind Johnjoe’s Express in a competitive handicap and a repeat of that sort of effort will surely see him prove far too good for this opposition.
Michael O’Brien’s Shayrandar, who cut little ice in three bumpers early in the year, gets the nap in the Anglo Irish Bank Maiden.
Those events took place when the ground was very much on the soft side and the four-year-old hinted he is far better than that at Galway on his reappearance.
Contesting a 12 furlongs maiden, Shayrandar finished seven lengths fourth behind hot-pot, the Dermot Weld trained Orpington.
Biggest danger looks to be Fayr Star, two and a half lengths further adrift in fifth spot at Ballybrit, after enjoying a less than clear passage turning for home.
Ruby Walsh and Tom Mullins are fancied to team up for a double with Bob What and Academy Brief. Bob What was returning from a break when seventh to Alexander Fourball at Galway and is the one to beat in the Tom Murphy Mercedes Car Sales Benz Handicap Chase.
Academy Brief, raised just a pound for finishing third to Pease Blossom and Lord Of The Grove at Galway, gets the nod in the Kiely Gaule Financial Services’ Handicap Hurdle.
The Noel Cummins Bookmaker Handicap is probably best left to Batang, even if he is a pound wrong at the weights. Assessed on his flat form in Germany, Batang has shown plenty of improvement since coming to this country, having landed three races over flights in the past few months.
