Lad set to strike Gold
He will strip in good shape following a promising effort at Galway and should at least beat more than beats him!
At Ballybrit, Noel Meade’s gelding finished a creditable two and a half lengths second to Kentucky Charm in the GPT Handicap over a trip, two miles, which was almost certainly further than he wanted. Athlumney Lad also contested the Galway Hurdle three days later, but could only finish eighth, after being hampered two out.
Good Surprise is a worthy top weight, having produced a sparkling display to give subsequent winner Sea Skate 27lbs and a two lengths beating at Gowran Park. But he went up 9lbs for that and now faces a stiff task.
There are numerous others for the short list, far too many for comfort, but with heavy rain forecast overnight, Athlumney Lad’s proven ability to handle any conditions is the deciding factor.
The Listed Carlsberg Ruby Stakes is equally puzzling, but a little on Dermot Weld’s Miss Mambo may not miss the target by a whole lot!
She has been rested since finishing fourth behind
Kitty O’Shea way back in March at the Curragh, but Weld is sure to have her primed for this valuable prize.
Professor Hegarty gets the nod to make a winning debut over jumps in the Tom McGiff Plumbing Maiden Hurdle.
He didn’t get the best of rides when third in the bumper won by Shannon Mist at Tipperary earlier in the month and the booking of Ruby Walsh is hardly a minus.
If the ground remains on the good side then the Galway Hurdle winner, More Rainbows, will be hard to beat on his chasing debut in the Joesph J Grace Memorial Novice ’Chase.
But on the basis that the forecasters will get it right, Gortinard, an easy winner here on Monday, is fancied to cope with Dix Villez.
