Make it Mahler
Well touted at the Ballydoyle Open Day, the son of Galileo showed little on his debut at Leopardstown when only ninth of 13 behind Mores Wells.
Strictly on that running, he cannot beat runner-up Vincenzio Galilei, who was some seven lengths clear of the selection.
Mahler, however, showed huge improvement when returning to Leopardstown just over two weeks later.
He battled on powerfully to beat the useful Akua’Ba by a length and a quarter and stepping up another two furlongs in trip now is just what’s required.
Ezima and So Amazing have a life chance as well, but Mahler to stay outstay them all is the reasonably confident prediction.
The Listed Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Victor McCalmont Memorial Stakes is a real puzzle with the nod falling on John Oxx’s Athenian Way.
This is a big step up from a maiden success at the Curragh, but Athenian Way showed a good attitude then and clearly her shrewd handler believes she is well capable of holding her own in this company.
The likes of Eskadron and Lifetime Journey are the form horses in the Thomastown Maiden, but neither will take a lot of beating.
Preference is for the Ballydoyle newcomer War And Peace, a beautifully bred son of Danehill out of the Group 1 winning sprinter, Pipalong.
At Kilbeggan tonight, Ruby Walsh looks the man to have on your side. He teams up with the frustrating Belord in the New Forest Golf Club Maiden Hurdle and Edward O’Grady’s charge is the choice.
Belord showed last month that a fast surface holds no fears for him when collared late and beaten half a length by Add Wings at Clonmel.
Joe Crowly’s Rose Of Clare, with Walsh in the plate, has a leading chance in the Sean Hughes Memorial Mullingar Park Hotel handicap Hurdle.
The mare’s only win to date came when Walsh guided her to victory in a maiden on this track back in September. This is the first time he has ridden Rose Of Clare since and she gave every indication last time that her turn would not be long delayed.
Beaten three and a half lengths into third by Afterburn at Cork, the six-year-old has every chance of reversing the placings on 5lbs better terms.
A third Walsh possibility is Tom Kitt in a woeful looking Bridge House Hotel Handicap Hurdle. Truth to tell, Tom Kitt has little to recommend him, but this is an ideal race for a touch and he is trained by Tony Martin.
At Sligo tomorrow, Farmer Brown, third to Bobs Pride in a competitive Punchestown handicap, will surely relish the drop in class afforded him in the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Hurdle.
