Improving Valain set to jump to it
Trained by in-form Charlie Swan, the five-year-old has been in terrific form of late and arrives on the back of a career-best effort at Tipperary.
His jumping was a joy on that occasion, as he travelled beautifully through the contest for David Casey.
Valain threw a quite spectacular leap at the second last and then surged away to beat Carlesimo unextended by eight lengths.
Swan and Casey also have prospects with Happy Reunion in the Ashbourne Mares Maiden Hurdle.
She performed solidly when beaten a length and a quarter by Back Of The Pack at Limerick and the form was boosted when the third, Dani’s Girl, went on to score subsequently.
As well the selection has an 8lbs allowance now, for never having won a race, which wasn’t on offer at Limerick.
Fairy Field, a horse who has clearly had his problems, is the one to beat in the Bumper.
John Kiely’s charge produced a decent effort at Tipperary last month and, if stripping in the same shape, can do the business. He finished third behind Promising Times, in a race which has been working out really well. Pops Hero (second), Russian War (fourth) and Allez Vite (seventh) have all won in the meantime.
Lightly-raced Schindler’s Gold, successful in a maiden at Limerick, can provide the answer to the Ballybin Hurdle. He hasn’t been seen since failing to justify favouritism at Punchestown in December, filling a remote sixth behind Your Sum Man. That was disappointing, but the surface was very testing and Tom Taaffe’s six-year-old remains a useful talent.
