Keep an eye out for Trouble
The seven-year-old is at the right side of the handicap and could well make the best of the 20lbs he receives from Ansar, winner of the contest for the last two years.
Christy Roche has clearly laid out his charge for this major prize and he has been rested since falling in the Irish National at Fairyhouse back in April. The selection was running the race of his life on that occasion, travelling strongly in fourth when departing the scene six from home.
Ansar is obviously going to be a tough nut to crack. His love of this track is legendary and he will be going for an eighth success round here. Dermot Weld's admirable charge warmed up for this with an excellent third in a Curragh handicap and is certain to strip fresh and well.
He does, however, face a stiff task, racing off a mark 13lbs higher than a year ago.
Wills Wilde, if he stays, and Manjoe, definitely a dark horse, are two others for this particular short-list.
The classy Lord Over gets the nap to make a winning debut over flights in the William Hill In Ireland Hurdle. Pat Flynn's five-year-old finished up last season as one of the best bumper horses in the country, finishing a close third behind Leading Run and Hairy Molly at the Punchestown Festival.
Flynn also has a live chance with the progressive Wordly Wise in the williamhillcasino.com Handicap. He has improved through the campaign, performing particularly solidly when touched off late by Hitchcock at Naas.
Born For Glory, way down the pecking order - one imagines - at Ballydoyle, can land the williamhillpoker.com Maiden. He didn't look much as a two-year-old, but may have improved, on the evidence of his three parts of a length second to stable companion, Road To Mandalay, at Navan in early June.
