Earth Mother poised to strike
His Earth Mother is the nap choice in the opening Mares Maiden Hurdle. The Wexford bumper winner made a solid start over flights on this track two weeks ago and should now be poised to strike.
She travelled sweetly through that contest, before ranging up as a big threat to eventual winner, Rotorua, early in the straight.
But Earth Mother wasn’t clever at either of the final two flights and was three lengths adrift at the end.
The fact it was a further 24 lengths back to the third was encouraging and the six-year-old is entitled to come on plenty for that initial experience.
Mullins unveils yet another newcomer in the Bumper, Not For Converting, a son of Bob Back, and he gets the nod in what looks a moderate enough heat.
One of the more interesting contests of the afternoon is the Powerstown Chase, bringing together a number of previous winners.
The nod falls on Tony Martin’s Drumconvis, even though he would probably be more effective with another couple of furlongs to travel.
Successful at Down Royal, Drumconvis is now down in class, having finished fifth behind Casey Jones at Leopardstown and Follow The Plan at Gowran Park in the meantime.
Ruby Walsh partners Earth Mother in the first and is a significant booking for Cloncrave in the Ballypatrick Handicap Hurdle. He’s no great shakes, but did show improved form at Fairyhouse last Friday, a length and a quarter second to Johnee Joblot. Cloncrave looked all over a winner on the flat, but was mugged close home and goes up 3lbs in future handicaps.
