Raven’s Run can spring a surprise
There seems little doubt both Captain Cee Bee and Sophocles are better than the selection, but the ground is going to be very testing and that can be a great leveller.
Michael Cunningham’s six-year-old has won two bumpers on such surfaces and the ground was too quick when he finished a creditable sixth in the handicap won by Streets Of Gold, controversially demoted to second, in a Leopardstown handicap at Christmas.
Captain Cee Bee, already well touted for the Supreme Novices’ at Cheltenham, has won his two races over flights in fine style, but this is not his ground.
Sophocles was less than impressive when taking his maiden at Leopardstown and, again, would prefer much nicer ground.
Newmill has a minimum of 13lbs in hand of all of his rivals in the Byrne Group plc Tied Cottage Chase and will take all the beating, following a cracking effort behind Nickname and Kicking King at Gowran Park. But his form has been largely hit-and-miss for a while now and, perhaps, Cailin Alainn will prove too strong for him.
She has had her problems of late and would prefer a longer trip. But Cailin Alainn did possess sufficient speed to win over two miles over hurdles at Tramore and could prove the value on the ground and over this galloping track!
At Fairyhouse this afternoon, Ted Walsh’s Battlefront has a leading chance in the Kehoe Ceilings and Partitions Maiden Hurdle.
He’s clearly no star, but this is a weak heat and the six-year-old has shown promise of late, sixth to Oscar Lyons at Leopardstown and third to Mr Muji at Navan.
Willie Mullins’ C’est Ca is impossible to oppose in the Corporate Hospitality At Fairyhouse Hurdle.
A very moderate perfomer on the level, he has been transformed since being given a set of obstacles on which to concentrate.
C’est Ca could hardly have been more impressive on his second outing over jumps when making all to score by 17 lengths at Punchestown.
Fair Ina, who showed all the right qualities to resist Sesame Rose (rec. 3lbs) at Punchestown, the verdict half a length, can confirm the placings in the Bumper.
Limerick tomorrow is subject to an 11.00 inspection this morning and if the green light is given then Stewarts House, a close third to Oscar Lyons at Leopardstown, can land the Coffey Construction Maiden Hurdle.
