Eirinn’s looks rock solid
Noel Meade’s six-year-old made a highly promising start at the Galway Festival and should prove hard to beat.
At Ballybrit, he was light enough in the market, but produced a performance which indicated his turn would not be long delayed.
The selection challenged strongly through the final furlong when beaten a short head by the relatively experienced Noble Commander, with Willie Mullins’ well-touted newcomer, Persian City, another short head away in third.
Conditions are sure to be testing, but there was plenty of cut in the surface at Galway, following persistent rain throughout the day, and Eirinn’s Rock is strongly fancied to outstay this opposition.
Another who will arrive on the back of a decent enough effort at Galway, Afasheen, can take the Pat Doyle Memorial Mares’ Novice Hurdle.
She won her maiden at Roscommon, from subsequent dual winner, Inner Voice, and wasn’t disgraced when stepping into novice company at Galway.
Afasheen was beaten a length and five lengths into third behind stable companion, Desert Abbey and Go Native and this appears a far easier task!
Jumeirah Scarer gets the nod in the first division of the Donlon Development Ltd Maiden Hurdle for colts and geldings.
He was a 50-1 shot, when a creditable third to Brutto Facie and Quinmaster at Tipperary, and this represents a major drop in grade.
