Make it Man About Town
Barring accidents it is difficult to envisage any of the pair’s opponents getting a look in, with Man About Town rating the nap to beat his rival.
Tom Taaffe’s seven-year-old was a more than useful novice hurdler, but this was always going to be his game.
Indeed, he has a pop over fences to his credit, going off a heavily-backed favourite to make a winning debut at Fairyhouse in May. The selection travelled and jumped well, but was run out of it close home and beaten three parts of a length by Khairambar.
Tony McCoy was aboard on that occasion and the fact he renews the partnership, his only ride of the day, has to be regarded as significant.
Davenport Milenium, a splendid jumper, is a worry. Willie Mullins’ gelding found the extended three miles further than he wanted to go when beaten two lengths by Lord Archie at Roscommon last week and this two miles and three will be far more suitable.
Ruby Walsh partners Davenport Milenium and whatever his fate on the nine-year-old is fancied to team up with Zelkoa to land the Devon Inn Juvenile Hurdle. The previous winners appear vulnerable and Zelkova, successful on the level two runs back at Fairyhouse, seems the best proposition.
Lucky Lucioni, with the talented Chris Hayes in the plate and fourth to An Tadh at the Galway Festival, is the choice in the EBF Premier Nursery.
