Boulavogue can make it third time lucky
The five-year-old has long been a model of consistency and, with two decent efforts over fences to his credit, looks the one to beat.
He finished third behind Baltiman and Footy Facts at Tipperary and then improved on that effort at Down Royal next time. Boulavogue was beaten a length and three parts into second place by Tony Martin’s gambled-on Drumvonvis and that entitles him to preference over Deutschland, who may come on a bundle for his spin behind Merchent Paddy at Downpatrick.
Scotsirish, taking a dramatic rise in trip, should keep Willie Mullins’ good run going in the Glen Chase. He seemed to be badly in need of the run when fourth to Watson Lake over two miles at Navan and this classy sort, when on song, is fancied to show his liking for being stepped up to three miles for the first time.
Liskennett and Shakervilz appear the two on which to concentrate in the Rock Of Cashel Hurdle.
Shakervilz, who got better and better as last season progressed, hasn’t been seen since finishing third to Got Attitude at the Punchestown Festival in April. He could well need the outing and preference is for Liskennett, even though she made no show in the Grade 2 hurdle won by Catch Me at Navan earlier this month.
It seems unlikely she has become a bad mare overnight, however, and her second behind Nenuphar Collonges in the Grade 1 Albert Bartlett Novice Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival was a particularly smart effort, in the context of this contest.
King Of Queens, successful on the flat when trained by Jim Bolger and who caught the eye when fourth to Yield For No One at Punchestown, can win the Holy Cross three-year-old Maiden Hurdle for Tom Mullins.
