Wotsitoyaa has what it takes to land Plate
The Naas handler knows what’s required for the traditional Festival feature, having landed this major prize with Dovaly two years ago.
Wotsitoyaa is a tough ten-year-old, who is now probably at the peak of his powers, and has to be fancied to give us a big run.
The last time he ran over fences was at Punchestown in April when producing a career-best display to beat Nicky Henderson’s English invader Lord Of The River by seven lengths.
The selection went up 9lbs, but you could hardly describe it as draconian, so impressive was he at Punchestown that afternoon.
The canny O’Brien hasn’t run Wotsitoyaa over fences in the meantime, preferring to give him two spins over flights as preparation.
Royal Jake is put forward as the biggest danger. His trainer, Noel Meade, has a tremendous Galway record, but the big one has always eluded him. In Royal Jake, rested since slamming Mantles Prince to the tune of eight lengths at Killarney in May, he has a live candidate.
Direct Bearing, a major disappointment when 18th behind Quadco in the GPT Handicap here on Monday night, turns out again in the HP OpenView Hurdle.
He was found to be coughing post-race, but trainer, Dermot Weld, yesterday reported that his charge had scoped clear. Weld believes Direct Bearing may have swallowed something during the race.
At his best, and with the surface drying out, the five-year-old has the winning of this and gets the vote.
Weld can also supply the solution to the moderate looking HP Imaging and Printing Maiden with Musical Stage.
He’s no star, having finished over five lengths third behind Ancestor at the Curragh in May. Musical Stage seems to stay well, however, and stepping up to 12 furlongs for the first time looks in his favour!
Park Leader, who seemed to find a mile and half beyond his best when runner-up behind Harry The Ear at Limerick, is the one to beat in the HP SuperComputing Handicap.
