Solerina set to grind out another victory
Pride of place has to go to the battle between Solerina and Brave Inca in the Ballymore Properties Hatton’s Grace Hurdle.
The ground is certain to be a major factor and the softer the surface the more confidence you would have in Solerina coping with a dangerous opponent.
The mare is an open book at this stage. She will try to make all and is virtually unbeatable over two and a half miles on testing ground.
Brave Inca will surely come on a bundle for his seasonal debut second behind Macs Joy at Down Royal and showed what a tough customer he is with a career-best performance to beat War Of Attrition in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Solerina gets the vote, but buckets of rain would make having a wager a far more comfortable proposition!
The Sharp Minds Betfair Royal Bond Novice Hurdle is easily the best race of its kind run in either Britain or Ireland so far this season.
It promises to be hugely informative, but surely Total Enjoyment is the horse with which they all have to cope, having taken to hurdles really well with an easy success in a moderate event at Down Royal.
She showed her true colours with a stunning display in the Cheltenham bumper in March, beating a whole host of subsequent winners in tremendous style.
Watson Lake is hard to oppose in the Pierse Group Drinmore Novice ’Chase. He does duty for Noel Meade instead of Mark The Man, who did not scope 100% yesterday morning.
When on song over flights Watson Lake was brilliant, but it has to be said also disappointed on more than one occasion.
This may be his true vocation, however, and the six-year-old produced a sparkling display over fences first time up at Navan to beat Fota Island an unflattering six lengths.
I’ll Call You Back, runner-up behind Kerryhead Windfarm at Punchestown, gets the nap in the Hooke and MacDonald Maiden Hurdle.
Dropping down two furlongs in trip is in his favour and the form was boosted when third placed Whizbang scored at Wexford yesterday.
At Fairyhosue today, in-form Davy Russell can enjoy another success aboard Kentucky Charm in the betfair.com Juvenile Hurdle.
This is a horse with a real engine, who has been plagued by indifferent jumping thus far. That can only improve, hopefully, and he was most impressive when taking his maiden by 20 lengths at Clonmel last time.
The Shelbourne Developments Hurdle appears to be a match between Augherskea and Rockstown Boy. Augherskea carried his head high when readily winning on his debut over jumps at Down Royal and preference is for Rockstown Boy.
He was most disappointing at Galway back in July, failing to justify odds of 1-3. But the edge may have gone off him at that stage and he remains a talented horse, with a nice touch of class when things go right.
