Casey can bag a tasty treble
He partners Mister Month for Charlie Swan in the Curragha Maiden Hurdle and the eight-year-old is a reasonably confident nap choice.
The selection has been performing well over two miles, finishing third to Justpourit at Navan last time and previously only narrowly failing to reel in Public Reaction on this track.
A step up in trip and moderate opposition looks just the ticket to see him safely home in front on this occasion.
Casey could also ride a double for Willie Mullins aboard Homer Wells and Major Vernon. Admittedly, it is difficult enough to know what to make of Homer Wells of late, but he is still selected in the St Patrick’s GFC Stamullen Beginners Chase.
His form over fences so far is a long way short of what he achieved as a novice hurdler and, on his latest appearance, could never get in a blow at the ordinary Coljon at Wexford.
Casey, however, replaces the relatively inexperienced 7lbs claimer who partnered Homer Wells then and it is much too early to be giving up on him.
Loss Of Faith is the form horse in the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Beginners Chase, but this was always going to be the useful Major Vernon’s true vocation and he is preferred.
Artist’s Muse, who showed on the flat that testing conditions hold no fears and who finished strongly on her debut over flights when runner-up behind subsequent winner, King Of Merlia, at Navan, gets the vote in the Kilbride three-year-old Maiden Hurdle.
Navan tomorrow plays host to the best race of its kind run in Ireland this season, the Grade One Barry and Sandra Kelly Memorial Novice Hurdle,.
Ballyagran, you would think, is the only one of the six candidates who can be safely discarded. The other five are all potential crackerjacks and it is a contest which is going to answer a lot of questions.
The vote goes to Forty Licks, who beat Travino half a length at Naas last month. The margin would have been far greater but for the winner making a bad blunder at the last.
Father Matt, who ran the race of his life when a neck second to Kill Devil Hill at Fairyhouse, is the choice in the Kevin McManus Bookmaker Novice Chase.
At Thurles tomorrow, Rocket Ship may be worth a last chance to come good in the Horse and Jockey Hotel Hurdle.
The conditions are stacked in his favour and he has a minimum of 8lbs in hand off all of his rivals. Rocket Ship has been rested since again disappointing, the ground was far too heavy anyway, behind Feathard Lady at Down Royal early in November and usually goes well fresh.
No Complications, with a promising fifth behind Feathard Lady in a Fairyhouse handicap under his belt, should prove hard to beat in the INH Stallion Owners’ EBF Maiden Hurdle.
