Polar can freeze out rivals
A costly failure at Punchestown 10 days ago, Willie Mullins' gelding is a confident choice to set the record straight.
At Punchestown, the selection had to give best to the potentially smart General Wellington in a driving finish, going under by three parts of a length. Dropping back two furlongs in trip is very much in his favour.
The second section can go to Philip Rothwell's Call Bewleys, an imposing son of Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe winner, Carroll House.
Call Bewleys has yet to fulfil his undoubted potential, but there was a lot of promise in his performance when third to Holly Tree and Larkwing at Limerick early last month.
Tom Taaffe's Breaking Silence, down in class, will prove hard to beat in the ladbrokes.com Hurdle.
He was taking on some real crackerjacks when 20 lengths third behind Glenvove Marina in a Grade 1 at the Punchestown Festival.
The seven furlongs Gowran Park Race, at the Kilkenny track tomorrow, promises an interesting tussle between Hard Rock City and Lord Admiral.
The latter ran really well when two lengths second to Danak at Leopardstown last weekend and has a theoretical 3lbs in hand and race-fitness on his side.
Lord Admiral, however, doesn't win very often and preference is for Hard Rock City, an admirable and consistent sort.
He hasn't been seen since May of last year when half a length second to Arch Rebel, Lord Admiral was half a length away in third, in a Listed event at Leopardstown and Michael Grassick's charge has shown in the past he goes really well fresh .
Dermot Weld's Subtle Shimmer gets the vote in what is a moderate Irish Stallion Farms' EBF Maiden.
She made an eye-catching debut when a remote fourth to Ezima over a mile at Navan and five furlongs next time was always going to be far too short.
At Kilbeggan tonight, Noel Meade's Whataboutya has a leading chance in the three mile FBD Insurance Hurdle.
Sixth in a handicap hurdle at the Punchestown Festival, he subsequently matched strides for a long way with this week's easy Killarney winner Cool Running, over fences, also at Punchestown.
Mine'sasmallone, third to Impudent and Adajal at Killarney, should find the opposition to his liking in the Kilbeggan Maiden Hurdle.
