Beef off Clonmel menu
“The over-reach he suffered at Down Royal is just too deep”, said Hourigan. “He has been to the sea all this week and will make several more visits.
“I’ve put him in the Durkan at Punchestown and the plan is to go either for that or the O’Connell Chase at Cork, before the Lexus (formerly the Ericsson) at Leopardstown at Christmas.”
The biggest race Clonmel houses for the season is set to attract an English challenger in the shape of Impek, however.
He is trained by Henrietta Knight for Jim Lewis, the connections who were successful in the race twelve months ago with Edredon Bleu.
Said Kight: “Mr Lewis is keen to return, having enjoyed his win immensely last year. The horse seems well at home and runs better fresh.”
Other likely runners are Native Jack, Risk Accessor and Alcapone. Arthur Moore said of Native Jack: “It is very difficult to find suitable races for him.
“He was disappointing in the Munster National (Limerick), but is in great form and on schedule for Clonmel.”
Risk Accessor is owned by J P McManus and trained by Christy Roche. McManus’ racing manager, Frank Berry, said: “He is in good form and misses Cheltenham this weekend to head for Clonmel.”
Mouse Morris indicated that Alcapone will take his chance, while he still has an open mind as to the next assignment for the exciting War Of Attrition, so impressive first time up over fences at Thurles.
Meanwhile, Barry Geraghty has caused a minor surprise by discarding Back In Front in favour of Macs Joy for Sunday’s Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown. David Casey will now team up with Back In Front for the first time.
Commented Geraghty: “Macs Joy impresed me on Saturday when winning up the north and, while I don’t want to take anything away from Back In Front, I feel Macs Joy will really put it up to him.”
: 8-11 Back In Front, 2-1 Macs Joy, 7-1 N. Meade stable, 10-1 Essex, 20-1 Silk Screen, 33-1 others.
