Tyholland poised to get off the mark
Robbie Osborne’s five-year-old will be getting all the allowances, including his rider’s 7lbs claim, and should relish this two and three quarter miles.
Certainly, he stayed on with real gusto at the end of two and a half on his latest appearance at Punchestown last month.
He lost his place approaching the home turn, before powering through from the final flight to be beaten about a length into fourth spot behind Ardsallagh’s Lark.
Tyholland was a head adrift of third placed Itsonlyapuppet (rec. 5lbs) and has to be fancied to reverse placings on the revised terms.
Mr Muffin Man, who went down by a short head to Itsonlyapuppet on this track in late August, gets the vote to land the Bumper. That particular contest was confined to lady riders and the selection would have won with stronger handling.
In any case the form appears decent, considering Itsonlyapuppet’s good effort over flights subsequently and well beaten fourth, Border Quaich, has since scored at Roscommon.
Lily Shing Shang, despite top weight, is capable of going very close in the Derrinstown Stud Apprentice Handicap.
This vastly improved mare was returning from a little break, and was taken to the front too early, when a creditable fourth to Saintly Rachel in a hotter contest at Fairyhouse a week ago. The handicapper, encouragingly, didn’t over-react and Pat Hughes’ charge runs off the same mark now.
Compo, up just a pound following a much improved effort when third to Threequarter Moon and Shannon Bridge, both horses have again run well in the meantime, at Listowel is the one to beat in the Proctor And Gamble Handicap Hurdle.
