Longer trip should not hinder Mounthenry
The betting ring should be lively throughout the day, for what is a decent card, with no less than six conditions races.
Charles Byrnes’ six-year-old has enjoyed a terrific campaign, producing a career-best effort in another Grade Two at Punchestown last month.
Andrew McNamara made plenty use of him and Mounthenry stayed on too stoutly in the closing stages for odds-on Iktitaf, scoring by a length and a half.
The selection has done all his winning so far over two miles, but has given the definite impression a further four furlongs, with which he has to cope now, will not be a problem.
If Strong Project manages a reasonable round of jumping then he can land the Cashel Fine Arts Chase.
He made a bad blunder at the seventh when third to Forget The Past and Jim at Gowran Park last time and previously fell seven from home when in the process of running a cracker in Beef Or Salmon’s Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup win at Leopardstown.
In January, however, Strong Project showed his liking for this course and distance when slamming Doctor Linton by eight lengths with one of his main rivals now, Public Reaction (rec.4lbs), a further eight lengths away in third.
Line Ball, who failed to justify favouritism when a well beaten third behind Finger Onthe Pulse at Leopardstown at Christmas, is the choice in the C J Sheran Ltd Maiden Hurdle.
At the time it looked a disappointing effort, but subsequent successes for fourth placed Well Mounted and Mercuric, who finished fifth, have shown the form in a different light.
Nutmeg Tune looks the one to beat in the Thurles Racecourse Maiden Hurdle. Edward O’Grady’s mare was returning from a long absence when beaten a length and a half by Fanling Lady at Naas in what was, admittedly, a moderate event.
