Carraig Na Gcapaill can overcome double penalty
The Eric McNamara-trained daughter of ‘Arc’ winner Carroll House has been impressive in recent victories at Ballinrobe and Kilbeggan and must be strongly fancied to continue her winning sequence.
The seven-year-old got off the mark when slamming useful yardstick Catskill over two miles at Ballinrobe.
Ruby Walsh, who continues his association with the mare, gave her a confident ride to beat Indian Love convincingly over two miles and three furlongs here recently.
Reverting to two miles and faced with shouldering a double penalty, Carraig Na Gcapall still makes plenty of appeal and is expected to complete the hat-trick, at the expense of Paul Carberry’s mount Sally’s Dream, successful at Bellewstown last week.
The champion jockey might complete a double on the Michael O’Brien-trained Right Combination, which should appreciate the step-up to three miles in the Innkeepers Maiden Hurdle.
Fourth to Mister Month at Tralee, Right Combination overcame a couple of sloppy mistakes in the closing stages when runner-up to Insan Flyer at Down Royal last Friday.
Today’s race looks no better and, in the hope that the extra half-mile will suit the six-year-old, he gets a confident vote.
Walsh and Michael O’Brien also have prospects in the opener with Newlands North, which returned after a lengthy break to chase home Khatiman in a claimer on the flat at Roscommon on Monday.
Iron Hague, which always runs well on this track and has the assistance of 7lb. claimer Conor Maxwell today, also has prospects, although 11lb. ‘wrong’ with Dr Swanini. But, if fully recovered from Monday’s run, Newlands North might oblige.
The fast ground will certainly suit the Joanna Morgan trained Jawad, returning to chasing, in the beginners event.
A faller on his most recent start over fences, he has experience over the larger obstacles and, following an encouraging third to Always The Groom at Wexford last week, he looks primed to record his first chase success.
