Dropped-in-class Akshar should have little difficulty
Dermot Weld’s gelding has enjoyed a couple of spins on the level of late and has a couple of decent efforts over flights to his credit.
He ran well on his latest appearance at the Punchestown Festival when seven-and-a-half lengths fourth behind English challenger, Snoopy Loopy. This represents a definite drop in class.
Tony Mullins’ Piercing Sun gets the nod to make a successful debut over fences in the Mullingar Beginners ’Chase.
He was beaten a neck and a head into third spot behind Dr Julian and Threequarter Moon over flights here last time and this is a gentle introduction.
At Navan tomorrow, Baggio looks very much the one to beat in the Kells Handicap.
He handles soft ground really well and was decidedly unlucky at Leopardstown on Wednesday night when third to Enfield Chase.
Dermot Weld’s Bawaader can land the Coolmore Mull Of Kintyre Maiden.
As a son of Indian Ridge he is likely to relish the soft surface and can only improve for his third behind Macduff at Gowran Park.
Michael Halford’s Briland, who made an excellent start when runner-up to Cappa Brack at Tipperary, can win the Lynn Lodge Stud EBF Median Auction Maiden. That is a contest which is working out nicely.
Halford could so supply the solution to the Coolmore King Charlemagne Maiden with the lightly-raced Princess Nala.
The daughter of In The Wings ran a cracker on her reappearance when two lengths second to Helvetio at the Curragh.
At Tralee tomorrow the somewhat enigmatic High Priestess has been found a good opportunity in the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Novice Hurdle.
She went from strength to strength on the flat last season, but could never quite get her act together over flights, promising a lot more than was ever delivered.
But she has returned in fine shape, finishing a creditable fifth behind Vinnie Roe in the Saval Beg Stakes at Leopardstown.
Gortinard, who landed a gamble over hurdles at the Punchestown Festival, is fancied to make a winning debut over fences in the Directors’ Beginners ’Chase.
