Black Church Lad can go one better

RUBY WALSH and Michael Hourigan can team up to take the Glantane Handicap Hurdle with Black Church Lad at Cork today. The seven-year-old has only run three times for the Limerick handler and his last two efforts have been promising.

At Punchestown in March, he finished half a length and a head third behind Healy’s Pub and Greywell and also performed solidly at the Punchestown Festival last week. Admittedly, Black Church Lad was beaten eight lengths into second place by Crimson Flower, but there was plenty to like about the way he stuck to his task. Encouragingly, Norbrook, who was a length and a half further away in third spot, boosted the form when scoring at Punchestown on Saturday.

Walsh also has a leading chance aboard the Michael Grassick trained Irish Empire in the Cork Maiden Hurdle. A useful sort on the level, Irish Empire performed with promise on his only outing over jumps to date when sixth behind Nil Desperandum at Punchestown in December.