Almier can defy substantial hike in handicap mark

ALMIER is fancied to defy a huge hike in the weights and land the nap in the Racing for Beginners Day Handicap Hurdle at Naas tonight.

Michael Hourigan’s six-year-old, winner of a Listowel bumper, got off the mark over flights with a smooth performance at Killarney last week.

Going off a heavily-backed market leader, he simply toyed with the opposition. The son of Phardante was never out of second gear, cruising to a four lengths defeat of Rampart.