War can win early skirmish
Mouse Morris reports his charge in good order for his seasonal reappearance and only if the ground turns very testing can one envisage defeat for the seven-year-old.
He's a horse who goes well fresh, as he again proved when returning from a break to land the Gold Cup in tremendous fashion in March, beating Hedgehunter a comfortable two and a half lengths.
War Of Attrition then came back to Ireland to produce a smashing display of front-running at the Punchestown Festival, easily beating the stable companions, Beef Or Salmon and Hi Cloy.
Watson Lake, who also goes well fresh, is currently rated 16lbs inferior to the champion, but looks best placed to take advantage should War Of Attrition perform below the level we have come to expect.
Adrian Maguire's Celestial Wave gets the nap to land the Listed Grabel Mares Hurdle, despite the fact she has 5lbs to find with Brogella.
The softer the surface the better her prospects and she found the ground a shade on the fast side when runner-up behind the smart Cailin Alainn at Fairyhouse in April.
Brogella will be tough to crack, but it is well to remember that Celestial Wave, just 3lbs worse in, slammed her to the tune of nine lengths at Leopardstown last Christmas.
The Go Racing In Kildare Beginners Chase looks a cracking contest and is certain to throw up many future winners.
The vote falls on Noel Meade's Mattock Ranger, who was always destined to be a chaser. Indeed, he has only run six times in all, rounding off his hurdling career with a game defeat of two horses who now reoppose, Patsy Hall and Fifth Of Forth, at Navan in March.
Female, seventh to Hairy Molly in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham and touched off in the final stride by Shuil Aris at Punchestown subsequently, is fancied to make a winning debut over jumps in the Punchestown Event Centre Maiden Hurdle.
