Indian Spring can finally come good
Edward O’Grady has turned to the find of the season, Paul Townend, to do the driving and, hopefully, the youngster’s magic can finally work the oracle.
The selection is one of the most frustrating horses in training. He has run two cracking races in Grade 1 company and yet remains a maiden over flights.
He was in action at Leopardstown just four days ago and performed well enough to indicate a little contest such as this may be finally within his compass.
Indian Spring finished fourth of 27 behind Realt Dubh and you would have to say this now represents a less exacting test!
Willie Mullins, despite an horrendous Leopardstown on Monday, enjoyed a splendid Christmas and looks the man to follow at Punchestown today.
His Ebaziyan, who is hardly the most reliable of sorts, should have the legs on seven opponents in the Annual Membership Hurdle.
He has a lot in hand at the weights and is taking a big drop in class, having finished third behind Punjabi and Sublimity on his final appearance of last season in the ACC Bank Champion Hurdle at the Punchestown Festival in April.
Mullins introduces a fascinating newcomer to jumps in the ex-John Oxx-trained Mourad in the New Year’s Eve three-year-old Maiden Hurdle.
The son of Sinndar scored twice on the level for Oxx and was a tough and resolute sort. Should the market speak in his favour then it would probably be unwise to oppose him.
A third Mullins possibility is Perfectly Composed in the Bumper. She has only hinted at ability so far, but this is a weak race and the drier the surface the better for the daughter of Bach.
