Joueur D’estruval can repeat last year’s success
The conditions of the contest aren’t exactly in favour of the selection and, with the exception of Nolan’s Pride, he meets his three other rivals on worse terms than in a handicap.
But the grey comes here in better form than the opposition, fresh from two decent efforts over flights.
He shrugged off the steadier of 11-13 to take a Thurles handicap and followed with a smooth ten lengths defeat of Lissbonney Project in a conditions event at Clonmel.
Dessie Hughes’ consistent Justpourit can overcome a bout of seconditis in the Bumper.
He was outclassed by Joe Crowley’s well-regarded Firth Of Forth at Navan, going down by seven lengths.
Justpourit appears to stay really well and should now relish stepping up to two miles and three furlongs for the first time.
Best bet at Down Royal today is Paul Nolan’s Dix Villez in the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Maiden Hurdle.
Returning from a break, he performed with plenty of promise when fourth to Court Leader at Leopardstown earlier in the month.
At Fairyhouse tomorrow, the durable Sweet Kiln is the choice in a fascinating Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Mares Novice Hurdle.
Considering the surface was on the quick side and the track was hardly in her favour, Sweet Kiln ran yet another cracker when beaten a short head by Teeming Rain at Thurles.
Willie Mullins sets a puzzle by saddling both Homer Wells and Our Ben in the Rathbarry and Glenview Festival Novice Hurdle.
Homer Wells is a cracking talent, but hasn’t looked comfortable travelling right-handed over flights so far and preference is for Our Ben.
He is making a rapid reappearance, having produced the performance of his life to take third behind No Refuge and Racing Demon in the SunAlliance Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham last week.
Lost Time, a close fourth to Arteea at Naas, rates a solid wager in the Fairyhouse Sunday Market Maiden Hurdle.
At Cork tomorrow, Randwick Roar gets the nap in the Beginners Chase.
Pat Doyle’s charge was in much better company when failing by a length and a half to concede in-form Pearly Jack 5lbs at Thurles last month.
Cove Mountain, who showed nothing in one outing as a juvenile, made a promising reappearance when three parts of a length runner-up behind Lahiba at the Curragh last Sunday and gets the vote in the Irish Stallion Farms’ Maiden over six furlongs.
Another Biffo, doing all his best work at the end of two and a quarter miles when third to Afistfullofdollars and Lost Time at Navan, may win the Munster Waste Management Maiden Hurdle.
