Flyer set to wing in one more time
He is the highest rated chaser in these islands, on a whopping 180 and, on all known evidence, will strip here as good as ever. He produced a tremendous performance at Cheltenham to beat Well Chief by two lengths in the two mile Champion Chase and that form received a big boost when Well Chief bolted in at Sandown on Saturday.
Moscow Flyer then went to Aintree, where he trounced Le Roi Miguel by 16 lengths in another Grade One.
Indeed, regular partner, Barry Geraghty, said he was in better shape there than at Cheltenham.
Noel Meade’s relatively fresh Wild Passion gets the nap vote to land the Evening Herald Champion Novice Hurdle.
He proved a big disappointment at Sandown back in January when only fourth behind Marcel. Meade then gave him a long break, before bringing the five-year-old back for Cheltenham.
The selection gave a far better performance in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, only giving best to the very talented Howard Johnson trained Arcalis.
That race has been working out well and Wild Passion can confirm placings with Publican, who was well held in seventh spot.
Michael O’Brien’ Forget The Past may prove capable of shrugging off top weight in the Ellier Developments Novice Chase.
An ordinary horse over flights, he has proved a revelation since being launched over fences. Forget The Past made a crucial blunder two out when going down by half a length to Like-A-Butterfly in the Powers’ Gold Cup at Fairyhouse.
That was a rock-solid effort, considering Like-A-Butterfly went on to take a competitive Grade Two at Aintree.
