Stay loyal to Focus
Dermot Weld has identified a very suitable opportunity for his six-year-old and it will be disappointing should he fail to give us a big run.
He won the GPT Handicap in tremendous style at Ballybrit, racing on the pace throughout, before forging clear to beat Essex by nine lengths. Three days later, Loyal Focus took his place in the Guinness Galway Hurdle and was far from disgraced, only fading between the last two flights to eventually finish eighth behind the impressive, Farmer Brown. This looks a lot easier!
Feature event is the Richard Power Handicap Hurdle and it may pay to rely on the locally-trained Joys Island. Paul Roche’s charge won his maiden on this track and indicated a return to his best form mightn’t be far away when not beaten all that far when ninth to Rainbow Dash at Galway.
Edward O’Grady’s Oola Lad is fancied to provide the solution to the Bumper. He was returning from a break when second to well-regarded Genuine Pearl at Cork and will surely strip fitter now.
The O’Neill’s Bar Maiden Hurdle appears particularly competitive for this track. The vote falls on Mrs Diniver. She has run well here in the past and the four-year-old showed at Galway, runner-up to Hovering, that her turn may not be long delayed.
Rebel Chief, fourth at Galway to Coin Man, has reasonable prospects in the Beginners Chase.
