Kazal can get off the mark over fences
A six-time winner over hurdles last season, Kazal has always looked an exciting prospect as a staying chaser. He shaped with plenty of promise when making his chasing debut in the recent Ballymore Properties Drinmore Chase at Fairyhouse.
Thrown in at the deep end in Grade 1 company, he jumped solidly for most of the journey and was disputing the lead when crashing out of the race three from home before Sky’s The Limit swept through to record a facile success.
Trained by Eoin Griffin, Kazal is dropping back into beginners’ company today and, suited by the step-up to three miles, looks stand-out bet as he seeks a confidence-boosting win ahead of an expected tilt at the Grade 1 three-miler at Leopardstown in two weeks.
Davy Russell takes over on Kazal from Barry Geraghty, who is on duty for Jessica Harrington at Cheltenham, and should enjoy an armchair ride on the strapping six-year-old.
Russell also has a solid chance on the Dessie Hughes trained Siegemaster in the Curragha Maiden Hurdle following his solid third behind Glenrock Leader and Mick The Man at Punchestown.
Gem Daly, a good winner from subsequent scorer Venalmar at Punchestown before failing narrowly in a Grade 3 contest at Navan, makes plenty of appeal on his return to the County Meath track for tomorrow’s Barry & Sandra Kelly Memorial Novice Hurdle.
Joined in tomorrow’s line-up by stable-companion Sigma Digital, Gem Daly went down narrowly to Rathmore Castle over course and distance last time but looks capable of going one better under Paul Carberry.
The Meade/Carberry partnership will also have high hopes for Jazz Messenger when he tackles two and a half miles for only the second time in the Grade 2 Giltspur Scientific Tara Hurdle.
A smooth winner of the Maplewood Developments Hurdle (Grade 1) at Punchestown already this season, Jazz Messenger might fail where stable-companion Aitmatov succeeded in the Hatton’s Grace, by collaring Michael Bowe’s front-running mare Sweet Kiln.
Proven at Navan, Sweet Kiln needs to bounce back from a tough race against Aitmatov. But she’s a relentless galloper and, if she jumps as fluently as usual, it will take a mighty effort from her rivals to peg her back.
On the supporting card, chasing debutant Glencove Marina, a Grade 1 — winning novice hurdler last season, looks a cut above his rivals on his chasing debut in the opening Irish Stallion Farms Beginners Chase.
Majestic Concorde, which slammed yesterday’s Gowran winner Ninetieth Minute in a strong Punchestown maiden, should outclass his rivals in the Betfair 4-Y-0 Hurdle.
At Cork, the progressive Uncle Junior might have the edge over Parsons Pistol in the O’Connell Transport Cork Stayers Hurdle over three miles.
Despite a below par run at Naas last time, Gemini Lucy might lead her rivals a merry dance in the O’Connell Logistics Hilly Way Chase.
Be My Leader should account for her nine rivals in the Lombardstown Mares Chase if reproducing her fine second to Sky’s The Limit at Grade 1 level at Fairyhouse.
