Good opportunity for Wishwillow Lord
Leonard Whitmore’s gelding is the highest rated horse in the contest and, if running close to his mark, should oblige.
Absent since late October, he returned to action at Fairyhouse at Easter to finish four lengths second to Schindlers Hunt with the useful Mansony behind in third.
The selection then ran at the Punchestown Festival and performed as well as could be expected when fourth to Big Zeb in a Grade 1.
That was run at a ferocious pace, J’y Vole and Perce Rock taking each other on at the front, and this should be a lot easier.
Ruby Walsh has some very good rides through the card and can start with a winner aboard Hurricane Fly in the www.punchestown.com Maiden Hurdle.
The son of Montjeu is yet another Willie Mullins French-import, who is sure to have been well schooled for this his first assignment over jumps.
Hurricane Fly was a smart sort in his native country, taking a Listed event at Saint-Cloud and finishing fourth behind subsequent French Derby winner, Lawman, at Chantilly in a Group 3.
Walsh teams up with Arc Bleu for Tony Martin in the Ireland For Horses Handicap Hurdle and the seven-year-old is the one to beat.
One suspects we have yet to see the best of this fellow and he should be spot-on for this following a spin on the all-weather at Dundalk.
Another Walsh possibility is Genuine Pearl, trained by his father, Ted, in the second section of the K.S.P.C.A Maiden Hurdle.
A dual bumper winner, when in the care of Mickey Flynn, Genuine Pearl was highly tried by his new handler at the Cheltenham and Punchestown Festivals and cut little ice.
Both of those contests were won by the talented Cousin Vinny and, with his sights considerably lowered, Genuine Pearl is fancied to get off the mark over flights first time of asking.
