Impek looks slick in this field
Henrietta Knight’s eight-year-old looks the likely favourite and, if putting his best foot forward, is sure to go close.
This will be Impek’s first outing since he produced one of his better performance at Sandown in April when beaten a length and a half into second spot by the classy Cenkos.
You could argue on that effort alone he is a cut above the home team and it won’t be any surprise should he proceed to outclass them.
But Impek, who is reportedly flying on the gallops, has shown in the past he is a hard horse to catch right and the fact Ms Knight’s charges are currently out for form is hardly encouraging.
I prefer to look elsewhere for the winner. There are several possibilities, but propose taking a chance on Willie Mullins’ Mossy Green. He has some cracking efforts as a novice to his credit and performed with real promise, even if eventually beaten 20 lengths, when runner up to Murphy’s Cardinal on his reappearance at Down Royal.
The opening INH Stallion Owners’ EBF Maiden Hurdle is best left to Michael O’Brien’s lightly-raced, Rearing To Go. He showed absolutely nothing on his only outing last season, but clearly thrived though the summer.
And there was plenty to like about his three and a half lengths second to Major Vernon on this track seven days ago.Christy Roche’s Adarma, if the market speaks in her favour, can take the T A Morris Memorial Mares Novice ’Chase. Her form deteriorated as last season progressed. But she looked particularly smart earlier in the campaign when scoring twice over flights at Punchestown and Gowran Park.
