Tagaki can bounce back in Thyestes
And indeed one of them, The Bunny Boiler, is doubtful. Noel Meade wasn’t one hundred per cent happy with the nine-year-old yesterday, but will wait until this morning before making a final decision.
Foxchapel King is a worthy top weight and his presence ensures a number of these have to compete from a long way out of the handicap.
He’s at his best in these type of contests, rather than taking on the better chasers at levels, and David Casey’s mount again indicated such thinking to be correct when finishing a length second to the 23lbs receiving Youlneverwalkalone at Leopardstown earlier in the month.
Foxchapel King has to be on the short-list, along with Takagi and Be My Belle.
Takagi hasn’t been seen since disappointing badly in the Hennessy at Newbury, behind Be My Royal, at the end of November.
He’s much better judged, however, on a smooth victory over Arctic Copper and Lord Of The Turf at Navan previously and Edward O’Grady’s horses are now back on song. Be My Belle, 9lbs wrong at the weights, will relish the three miles and the ground.
Takagi, the mount of Barry Geraghty, in the absence of sidelined Norman Williamson, gets the vote.
Satco Express, badly in at the weights and a novice, rates the nap in the Gouldings’ Richland Galmoy Hurdle. Three miles and testing ground is just what he needs, however, and this bold front runner should take all the beating. He won three in-a-row in fine style, before finding the company too hot and two and a half miles too short when only fourth behind Hardy Eustace at Leopardstown at Christmas.
The current form of Willie Mullins’ horses is a worry but his Hedgehunter is still the choice to land the EBF Novice Chase.
Hedgehunter’s two efforts over fences so far, at Clonmel and Cork, have been only mildly promising but this does look a weak contest.
Mackinus, who has been threatening for a while and was caught close home by Panchovillas Gleam at Down Royal last week, may finally do the business in the Long Man Of Kilfane Handicap Chase.
