Road Home going in the right direction
He showed much improved form on this track last month, when a desperately unlucky loser. Nibbled at in the market, Road Home looked sure to score until jumping markedly left at the final flight and was eventually run out of it and beaten three lengths by Od Si.
Hopefully, there will no repeat of such antics and the form received a timely boost whern Old Si stepped up in class to take a novice hurdle at Navan last weekend.
Tommy Stack’s Perce Rock gets the vote in the featured Grade 3 Betfair Novice Chase. This tough sort showed a willing attitude to beat Lenrey at Leopardstown and is fancied to outstay the free-running Clopf in the closing stages.
The very experienced Carrigeen Kalmia can provide the solution to the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association (Meath Region) Mares Chase.
Liz Lalor gets on well with the selection and she indicated her turn may not be long delayed when a creditable third to Well Tutored in a competitive handicap at Leopardstown.
At Cork today, Willie Mullins’ Itsmylife gets preference over Cloth Fair in the Killerta Mares Maiden Hurdle.
She made a reasonable start over jumps when second to Spitfire Sortie at Naas and that may give her the edge over a rival making her debut over flights.
Sigma Lifestlye, sixth in the maiden hurdle won by Powerfulpaddy at Punchestown, could be the answer to the Bumper.
At Fairyhouse tomorrow, Cooldine is set to make it five in-a-row in the Rathbarry and Glenview Studs Festival Novice Hurdle.
He goes from strength to strength and was particularly impressive on his latest outing when running a useful field ragged at Thurles.
Conna Castle gets the vote in the Powers’ Gold Cup, a contest which has attracted a very small field, considering the massive prizemoney on offer.
Jimmy Mangan’s gelding certainly caught the eye when returning from injury at Thurles, third to Cailin Alainn and Alexander Taipan, and has to go close if building on that.
The progressive Give It Time is the one to beat in the Masterchefs EBF Mares Novices Hurdle. Successful by 22 lengths in her maiden at Navan, she took a Listed race with plenty in hand at Limerick last Sunday.
An Innocent Man, runner-up behind Cheltenham hero Cousin Vinny at Punchestown, is the choice in the Bumper.
