Straightforward task for War Of Attrition
The Cheltenham Gold Cup hero of 2006 is on the trail of National Hunt’s greatest prize again and anything less than a comprehensive success now will surely put an end to such hopes.
The nine-year-old made a spectacular return from long-term injury at Punchestown last month and, if stripping in similar shape, will make short work of much inferior rivals.
At Punchestown, he jumped and travelled quite beautifully to coast home 19 lengths clear of Kicking King and this is certainly another very good opportunity to continue his rehabilitation.
Jessica Harrington’s Zarinava, a dual bumper winner, has a leading chance in the Templemore Mares Maiden Hurdle.
She made a solid start over flights at Naas when 13 lengths second behind Donnas Palm and time may well reveal there was little disgrace in that!
Footy Facts, beaten into second on his two outings over fences so far, can set the record straight in the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Beginners Chase.
He went under to Northern Alliance at Listowel and then proved no match for Baltiman at Tipperary.
What he requires is a thorough test of stamina, two miles and six round here might even be on the short side, but Footy Facts still gets preference over Western Gale, who made a cracking debut over fences when runner-up behind Shazand at Punchestown.
The nap vote falls on Noel Meade’s ex-point-to-pointer, Realt Dubh, in the Bumper.
Beaten into third at Listowel on his first outing on the racecourse, the selection stepped up on that when going under by a short head to Luska Lad at Kilbeggan. Luska Lad then boosted the form, going in again next time at Galway.
