Trip and ground should be ideal for Candy Girl
Willie Mullins’ horses are in fantastic shape right now and his Candy Girl is the nap choice in the opener, the Blackwater Hurdle. A very smart mare, she should be all the better for a belated reappearance at Leopardstown at Christmas. The nine-year-old was beaten three lengths and a length and three parts into third spot behind Grangeclare Lark and Brave Betsy.
Candy Girl is entitled to come on plenty for that much needed run and two miles and testing ground are the ideal ingredients to bring out the best in her.
Paul Nolan’s Rhacophorus, who seems to have been difficult enough to train, has solid prospects in the Rathduff Mares Novice Hurdle.
She generally has a long break between runs, so it is encouraging the daughter of Classic Cliche is turned out again after being in action at Christmas.
Rhacophorus was fifth to Grangeclare Lark then and has a bit to find with Cailin Vic Mio Cri, who was a place and half length in front of the selection at level weights.
That was Rhacophorus’ first outing for two months. however, and she may improve past her rival.
The Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF/Doncaster Sales Mares’ Bumper is best left to Michael Bowe’s Fair Ina, who is a typical Bowe inmate, tough and resolute.
Beaten a length into second by the promising Hidden Reseve on her debut at Navan, Fair Ina made no mistake with a gutsy display at Punchestown subsequently.
Sound Witness has a leading chance in the Mitchelstown Handicap Hurdle. A creditable second to Newbay Prop off a mark of 118 in the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown, he is now able to run here from a rating of 96.
