Judge to lay down the law
The massive six-year-old signaled his turn would not be long delayed over flights with a cracking effort at Leopardstown at Christmas.
Allowed bowl along in front for the first time, he stepped up on previous efforts to finish nine lengths second behind the smart Arrive Sir Clive.
The form was given a decent boost subsequently when third placed Black Harry, a further ten lengths adrift, went on to score at Naas.
Noel Meade and Paul Carberry combine with Judge Deed and the duo could be in line for a profitable day. Their Charlie Yardbird gets the nod in the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Irish Racing Writers’ Novice Hurdle.
Like Judge Deed, he showed much improved form on his latest appearance. That was at Leopardstown, where the selection powered through in the closing stages to beat Deep Thinker by three lengths.
He goes back two furlongs in trip now, but it shouldn’t be a problem, given that the surface will be particularly testing.
Mattock Ranger is another possibility for Meade and Carberry in the Grade 2 Woodlands Park 100 Club Novice Chase.
He ran well for a long way in a Grade 1 at Leopardstown, although posing no threat in the closing stages when a remote fourth behind Cailin Alainn.
Meade believes he may have needed that outing and Mattock Ranger is narrowly preferred to two dangerous opponents in O’Muircheartaigh and Merdeka.
Ruby Walsh could be in for a good day at Fairyhouse tomorrow. He is reunited with Nickname, in the ladbrokes.com Normans Grove Chase, and Martin Brassil’s charge, who slammed Central House at Leopardstown, can confirm the placings.
Walsh’s mount Black Harry gets the nap in the Mulhuddart Novice Hurdle. The two miles and three furlongs Naas event he won was moderate, but Willie Mullins’ gelding may show plenty improvement tackling three miles.
Alexander Taipan is another Walsh charge with real prospects, in the Irish Stallion Farms’ Beginners Chase.
Narrowly beaten by Toofarback at Punchestown in December, he was right on the heels of the leaders, back at Punchestown a week ago, when unseating Davy Condon at the ninth,
At Cork tomorrow Moore’s Law, who has shown in the past he goes nicely when fresh, can get punters away to a flier in the Blackwate Hurdle.
Absent since splitting Victram and Well Mounted in a competitive handicap at Down Royal in early November, that was a decent effort in the context of this contest.
If Grangeclare Lark, seeking a spectacular five-timer, puts her best foot forward then she is likely to make short work of the opposition in the Rathduff (Mares) Novice Hurdle.
Her slamming of the 135-rated Blazing Sky at Leopardstown gives her a clear edge, but the one worry is that Grangeclare Lark’s worst performance came on this track when scrambling home from Mickataine.
