Treculiar to prevail with the ground not likely to be a problem
Pat Hughes’ gelding got off the mark over flights at Killarney in July, when there was plenty of cut in the ground.
Ridden from off the pace, he made smooth progress in the final half mile to beat Batang by six lengths.
Treculiar has since run a cracker on the flat behind Rockstown Boy at Leopardstown and found the surface all too fast when a slightly disappointing ninth of 18 in the handicap won by Johnjo’s Express at Galway.
In any case this is a much easier assignment.
Aidan O’Brien’s Falstaff is fancied to defy top weight in the valuable Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Premier Nursery.
The son of Montjeu looked happy enough on the heavy ground at Tipperary a week ago, beating Fuensanta by three parts of a length.
Admittedly, Fuensanta did nothing for the form here yesterday, but that very small filly proved totally incapable of going through the ground.
Falstaff finished to real effect at Tipperary, giving every indication that stepping up another furlong now should be all in his favour.
Another who can make light of a welter burden is Willie Mullins’ Ballyamber in the Denny Gold Medal Handicap Chase.
He made little show in the Galway Plate, but fast ground and a long absence are reasonable explanations for that performance.
He is better judged on form in the early part of the year, when he won three times, and the selection has also shown he can handle heavy ground.
