Reach for the Sky
Edward O’Grady’s Medaaly gelding made giant strides over flights last season.
He absolutely sluiced up under 11-12 in the Coral Cup at Cheltenham in March and ran another cracker when third behind Asian Maze and Hardy Eustace in a Grade 1 at Aintree the following month.
Sky’s The Limit was probably feeling the strain of a hard race at Liverpool when unplaced behind Asian Maze in the Champion Stayers’ Hurdle at this venue on his only subsequent start.
Although today’s two miles will be plenty sharp enough for him and the opposition includes some smart sorts, notably Khetaam and Rights of Man, Sky The Limit’s class can see him through.
O’Grady can also collect with Celtic Sammy in division one of the Kildare Maiden Hurdle.
Formerly in the care of Noel Meade, the Navan bumper winner has run with plenty of promise in two starts over flights.
He had a number of subsequent winners in arrears when chasing home Albert Mooney at Navan last December and was travelling well in the lead when stumbling and coming down several strides after the fourth last at Naas in February.
He can make his experience tell against recent Tralee bumper winner Off The Mark.
The bang-in-form Meade can also bag a double via Major Stamp (Div. 2 Kildare Maiden Hurdle) and Heron’s Flight (Punchestown INH Flat Race)
In the frame in four of out five bumper starts, Major Stamp had Johnnie Dillinger a couple of lengths behind when second to Talktothetail at Clonmel in February and can go in first time of asking over flights.
Heron’s Flight turned in an encouraging first effort when fourth to Shady Willow over this course and distance last February, form which has been advertised in the meantime.
The opening Tote Sports Lounge Novice Hurdle should chiefly concern Silent Jo and Breathing Fire.
The latter is a very capable sort on his day - he was in the process of running a blinder when toppling over at the last in the Triumph Hurdle - but has run below par a couple of times this year and preference is for the consistent Silent Jo.
A dual hurdles winner here and at Tipperary in the summer, Silent Jo was bang in contention when falling at the second last in a conditions hurdle won by Foligold at Limerick last month.
The winner gave the form a timely boost when following up at Galway on Monday.
