Iktitaf can complete spectacular six-timer

TONY MCCOY heads for Newbury this afternoon and so misses teaming up with Brave Inca in the bewleyshotels.com December Festival Hurdle.

Colm Murphy wasted no time finding an able replacement and Ruby Walsh partners the champion hurdler for the first time.

The eight-year-old got back on the winning trail with a typically gutsy performance to beat Rosaker in the Hatton's Grace at Fairyhouse earlier in the month.

A horse who requires all the stoking up in the world, it will be fascinating to see how Walsh gets on with him.

In any case preference is for Iktitaf, who is currently in the form of his life. He is attempting a spectacular six-timer, which includes landing the Irish Cesarewitch at the Curragh.

Iktitaf's latest appearance saw him beat Asian Maze a length and a quarter in the Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown and he would surely have scored more comfortably but for over-jumping at the final flight.

Iktitaf to quicken past Brave Inca in the closing stages is the prediction.

Whatever the fate of Brave Inca, Walsh has prospects of a double with Alexander Taipan and Pedrobob.

Alexander Taipan was beaten a short head by Toofarback at Punchestown and looks too good for the opposition in the Bewleys' Hotel Manchester Beginners Chase.

Pedrobob performed solidly, under a big weight in a Cheltenham handicap in November and is the one to beat in the Bewleys' Hotel Leeds Hurdle.

Philip Fenton's Arrive Sir Clive gets the nap in the Bewleys' Hotel Leopardstown Maiden Hurdle.

Arrive Sir Clive ran a cracker at Fairyhouse, when two and a half lengths second to De Valira, and the latter put that in perspective when proving too strong for Catch Me here on Wednesday.

Gary Brady, who came from well off the pace when runner-up to Raven's Run at Gowran Park, is fancied to do better in the Bumper.

LEOPARDSTOWN

Selections

12.25 Another Nation

12.55 Pedrobob

1.25 Alexander Taipan (n.b)

1.55 Iktitaf

2.25 Blazing Sky

2.55 Arrive Sir Clive (nap)

3.25 Gary Brady

Next Best

12.25 Rock On Tom

12.55 Son Of Oscar

1.25 Twostrongmen

1.55 Brave Inca

2.25 Grangeclare Lark

2.55 Black Harry

3.25 Gotcha Covered

LIMERICK

Selections

12.40 Domhnach Mor

1.10 Shuil A Hocht

1.40 Humbel Baird

2.10 Ask Joey

2.40 Idealrise

3.10 Bobbawn

3.40 Oscar Ban

Next Best

12.40 Monaloo

1.10 Simons Girl

1.40 Knocakanure Lad

2.10 Benazzi

2.40 Arafan

3.10 Many Rivers

3.40 Cerowain.