Get off to a flier with El Fontan
The ex-French trained gelding showed, in his native country, that testing conditions hold no fears for him and he made the perfect start in Ireland at Killarney last month.
Now in the care of Noel Meade, the grey son of Verglas was backed from 5-4 to corresponding odds-on and duly landed the wagers.
He cruised through the contest and jumped well, before easing ahead approaching two out to score with his head in his chest by seven lengths.
Feature event is the Lartigue Races Supporters’ Club Lartigue Hurdle, which is going to be hugely difficult to solve.
A hopeful vote goes to Willie Mullins’ Sesenta, who is a more than useful timber-topper, when on song.
She should arrive in good shape, having toyed with the moderate Marseillais when taking a two mile handicap on the level at Ballinrobe a little over three weeks ago.
If the market speaks in his favour then Charlie Swan’s Boulavogue can prove the solution to the Kerry Spring Water Hurdle.
He hasn’t been since Punchestown in April, when chasing home Ferdy Murphy’s smart Kalahari King.
Hopefully, Swan will have the five-year-old reasonably forward, because Boulavogue, even if he does suffer from seconditis, looks the most reliable of this ten-strong field.
Dannyally, beaten by Derinlaur at Naas, gets the vote in the first section of the Bumper, while Conor O’Dwyer’s once-raced Rosiel, beaten a short head by Sir Vincent at Sligo in June, might take the other division.
