Hanzali can get off mark
The two chases scheduled were abandoned yesterday morning, because the ground was found to be unraceable, but a couple of divides still see a seven-race programme.
Hanzali, a son of Kris, hasn’t been seen since proving a very costly failure at Leopardstown just over a year ago.
He went off a 4-9 chance, from 4-7, that day but punters had their fingers badly burnt, as Slaney Sand proved a length and a half too good.
On the face of it that was a disappointing effort, but the form has worked out well in the meantime. Slaney Sand subsequently developed into a useful sort, while third placed Madalyar went on to score twice afterwards.
Oxx may also supply the solution to the Roscommon Maiden with the once-raced Aliyshan.
She finished seventh behind Fontanesi at Naas and has a bit to find with Coup De Chance, which took third spot in that contest.Coup De Chance, however, has since performed poorly in the race won by Tipperary All Star at Gowran Park.
Aliyshan, bound to come on plenty, is a safer proposition!
John Kiely’s horses are in terrific shape and his Flexible Action gets the nod in the second section of the Keredern Stud Maiden.
Winner of a Listowel bumper, he has since performed creditably in two winners’ races, runner-up to Royal Alphabet at Fairyhouse and fifth to Nicky Henderson’s Royal Rosa at Punchestown.
Jim Dreaper’s Valleya can shrug off top weight in the first division of the Elphin Opportunity Handicap Hurdle. He goes well fresh and the testing conditions will hold no fears for him, on the evidence of his easy victory in a maiden at Thurles in March.
