Africa can cut rivals down to size
Henry de Bromhead has his charges in good shape right now and the five-year-old appears to have a bright future. The dual bumper winner rounded off last season with an impressive display at Fairyhouse in April.
He battled in fine style to beat Mick The Man and Fiveforthree by a length and a quarter and the same and that was a high-class performance.
Mick The Man went to on to land a Grade 1 at the Punchestown Festival, while Fiveforthree had previously finished fifth to Cork All Star in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham.
If Gemini Lucy manages a clear round then she will make short work of the opposition in the Grade 3 Woodlands Park 100 Club Poplar Square Chase.
She is superb when getting it right, but does, at times, take far too many chances at her obstacles for comfort. Following a wind operation, Gemini Lucy made an excellent return at Limerick 13 days ago.
Encouragingly, her jumping was particularly good, as she gave 8lbs and a three lengths beating to the useful Prairie Moonlight.
Feature event is the valuable Woodlands Park 100 Brown Lad Handicap Hurdle, which is fiercely competitive. Hergrid is the each-way selection, having found the ground softer than he likes when fifth to Badgerlaw at Listowel.
At Wexford tomorrow, Dermot Weld’s Moon Mix gets a reasonably confident nap vote in the Block Ltd Maiden Hurdle.
The four-year-old lost his way on the flat, but indicated he had a future at this game first time up over jumps at Clonmel.
He certainly caught the eye in taking third behind Good Harvest and the form was boosted when fifth placed Fen Game scored in style at Thurles on Thursday.
Paul Nolan’s Rhacophorus is the one to be on in the Slaney Horse Feed Mares Hurdle. Absent since going under by three parts of a length to The Budgee at Fairyhouse on New Year’s day, she remains a promising talent.
Sheriussa, off for 309 days, can win the Bumper. She is trained by Colm Murphy, who has his team in rude health at the moment.
She was last seen at Navan just before Christmas when two lengths runner-up behind Bronx Girl and that was a smart effort, in the context of this contest.
