Accordion can call the tune
The six-year-old has a lot in hand at the weights and only has to perform close to his best to repeat last year’s success in this contest.
He hasn’t been seen since running moderately to fill sixth place behind Al Eile in a Grade One at Aintree in April, but that came at the end of a long campaign and over two and a half miles.
Previously, Accordion Etoile showed how good he is with a cracking effort in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.
He finished just over three lengths fourth behind Hardy Eustace, Harchibald and Brave Inca and that represented a career-best performance.
Reported to be in good shape by his astute handler, Accordion Etoile is fancied to sweep though late and fast on his way to a possible tilt at the Galway Hurdle.
Aidan O’Brien’s juveniles have hit a rich vein of form and he introduces yet another son of Danehill, Folk Tune, in the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Maiden.
But he will have to be particularly smart to beat Michael Halford’s Violani, a creditable third to this week’s Newmarket success story, Horatio Nelson, and Heliostatic at the Curragh.
John Oxx’s Akram is impossible to oppose in the Tolpuddle Maiden, following his second, demoted to third after a stewards’ inquiry, behind Portsmouth at the Curragh.
Sligo tomorrow houses the bet of the day in the shape of Kylebeg Dancer in the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Novice Hurdle.
Tom Hogan’s imposing mare was touched off late and beaten a neck by High Priestess at Limerick last time, a contest she really should have won!
On a very poor card at Fairyhouse tonight, the best policy is surely to keep Ruby Walsh on your side. He can start the ball rolling by partnering Lorikeet to take the opening Maiden Hurdle.
The selection made no show on the level last time, but previously took third spot over flights to King Of Foxrock at Navan.
Walsh teams up with Banasan in the P Elliot and Co Ltd Hurdle and the Kerry National hero, with two recent spins on the flat under his belt, gets the nod in a bad race.
Kelly’s Craft, who ran inexplicably badly at Tipperary, may be worth another chance for Walsh in the Kilsallaghan Beginners Chase.
