Bank on Benefit to follow up
Willie Mullins' progressive sort got off the mark by half a length from Sorrentina on this track at Christmas, but that tells little of the story.
Taken to the front by claiming rider Richie Kiely heading to two out, Freds Benefit was set for a comfortable success approaching the last.
But he blundered at the flight and Kiely was almost unseated and lost an iron to boot. He was a virtual passenger for most of the run in and yet Freds Benefit managed to hold his rival.
Farmer Brown, unlucky in running when beaten two and a half lengths by Freds Benefit's stable companion, Candy Girl, at Leopardstown, and in-form Holly Tree are obvious worries, but the selection, with Ruby Walsh now taking over, is still a reasonably confident choice.
The frustrating Running Wild, runner-up three times in-a-row, can finally get off the mark in the www.hackettspoker.com EBF Mares Maiden Hurdle.
She seems honest enough, however, and is down a little in class, having gone under by a length and a quarter to hot-pot Militant at Down Royal on her latest appearance.
There are plenty with chances in the Hacketts' Ireland's Largest Independent Bookmakers' Maiden Hurdle, with the nod falling on Jack Absolute.
He's had two rear-view glimpses of the smart Island Life, at Clonmel and Leopardstown, and we can be fairly certain John Murphy's charge is meeting nothing of that caliber now.
The Bumper is another tricky affair, but something on Father Chris shouldn't go too far astray.
He's down both in grade and distance, having performed well enough when a remote third behind Notre Pere and Mick The Man over two and a half miles at Leopardstown.
