Leave itto Lacha
The seven-year-old performed with real promise at Gowran Park four weeks ago and is well capable of landing this moderate event.
Having a first outing since May of 2006, he had shown little prior to Gowran. Despite his modest form figures, the selection went off a well-backed second favourite behind Le Sparnacien.
The pair completely dominated the finish, with Le Sparnacien getting first run on his opponent to score by a length and three parts.
There was no over-reaction on the part of the handicapper and Lochan Lacha races here off a mark just 4lbs higher.
Hopefully, the dreaded ‘bounce’ factor won’t come into play and, if it doesn’t, then Martin’s gelding will prove hard to beat.
Noel Meade, who has just lost the trainers’ championship to Willie Mullins, will surely be determined to wrest it back and Sean Purcell can give him the first of the new campaign in the McGrath Quarry Group Bumper.
The Bob Back gelding hasn’t been since last October, when making his debut at Galway. Well touted then, he ran a nice race for much of the journey, before fading in the closing stages to take seventh behind the talented Forpadydeplasterer.
Christy Roche’s Western Kid gets a hopeful nod, confidence would obviously increase should he prove strong in the market, to make a winning start over jumps in the Ba Morley Maiden Hurdle.
Successful in a Naas bumper in November, he wasn’t disgraced on his latest appearance, back at Naas, when seventh to Zaarito in a winners’ race.
