Chip can give rivals the chop
In tremendous order on the flat of late, there is a strong possibility the five-year-old may be tossed into this contest.
He hasn’t jumped a flight in public for 246 days and was well out of form for many months. Indeed, he dropped from a rating of 89 to a current mark of 79.
The selection has hit that rich vein on the level, however, and clearly is a far better horse now than at any time in the past.
Seamus O’Donnell’s gelding began by scoring at Ballinrobe and Limerick and then landed the hat-trick with a game defeat of subsequent winner, High Diving, at Sligo.
The opening Talbot Hotel Maiden Hurdle can fall to the Jessica Harrington-trained Quartino, who has some useful efforts to his credit in a higher league than this.
His most recent outing came in an 18-runner handicap on the flat at the Curragh when a length and three parts second to Munnings over a mile and a half.
Jim Bolger’s Trachonitis, fourth behind Caheerloch in a Curragh handicap last time, gets the nod in the Paddy McGee (Wexford) Ltd Maiden.
Arcelie, beaten a neck by Desert Mile at Killarney, can go one better in the Talbot Hotel Claiming Race.
At Fairyhouse tonight Poisiedon, beaten a length and a quarter by Johnstown Lad (gave 13lbs) at Bellewstown, may emerge best in the Corporate Hospitality Handicap.
