Mac Three should be razor sharp this time
Successful in a two and a half mile bumper at Roscommon in June, the five-year-old returned to that track in July to make his debut over flights.
Mac Three went off a well-backed favourite, but his jumping left him down and he finished a disappointing third behind Gimli’s Axe and Detonante.
Gimli’s Axe looked a particularly smart horse in any case and the selection, certain to have done plenty of schooling in the meantime, can benefit from a drop in class and going up half a mile in distance.
Shane Donohue’s Crannon Lad gets the nod in the more competitive D and E McHugh New Holland Finance Maiden Hurdle.
He comes here in good shape, having finished fourth to Dr Knock at Galway with subsequent Tramore winner, Two Excuses, behind in sixth place.
Dessie Hughes’ Gale Star looks very much the one to beat in the Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Chase.
As an 11-year-old, he’s hardly on the upgrade, but did perform solidly to be beaten two and a half lengths into second spot by course specialist, Keeponthesunnyside, here two weeks ago.
Considering it was another 20 lengths back to the third, a rise of 3lbs in the weights for Gale Star can hardly be regarded as draconian.
