Ten Fires can burn off rivals
Dessie Hughes’ charge comes here on the back of a decent effort at Navan four weeks ago and should take plenty of beating. He jumped and travelled beautifully through that contest and looked the most likely winner early in the straight.
But it is a long way home at Navan and, in the end, the selection’s stamina gave out and he was beaten two lengths into second by the durable Telenor.
That two miles and seven furlongs certainly appeared a trifle further than Ten Fires wanted to travel and this two and a half may well prove ideal!
Snowy Morning has at least 6lbs in hand of all of his rivals in the featured At The Races Bobbyjo Chase, but disappointed in the race a year ago and has been struggling to hit form this season.
He is passed over in favour of Southern Vic, who hinted at a return to his best when third to Mansony over an unsuitably short trip on this track last month.
The Winning Fair Juvenile Hurdle looks a very weak Grade 2 and, perhaps, it is significant Willie Mullins starts Coffee Tea Or Me off in this, rather than a maiden.
He hasn’t been seen since cruising to victory on the all-weather at Dundalk seventy eight days ago, but fitness is hardly a worry the way Mullins’ inmates are performing and gets the nod.
Enda Bolger’s well-regarded An Siorrac can provide the answer to the John McCarthy Memorial Hunters Chase. He’s won his only two point-to-points to date, beating the smart Carronhills by five lengths at Dromahane last time.
At Naas tomorrow, Colm Murphy’s Zaarito is fancied to give his Cheltenham hopes a boost by taking the Grade 2 paddypower.com Johnstown Novice Hurdle.
Truth to tell, Zaarito had little to beat when getting off the mark over flights at Punchestown. He was, however, third to Cousin Vinny in the Weatherbys’ Champion Bumper at Cheltenham last year and remains a horse of immense promise.
If Schindlers Hunt puts his best foot forward then he will prove hard to beat in the other Grade 2 on the programme, the paddypowerpoker.com Newlands Chase.
He would prefer a longer journey at this stage, scoring comfortably over two miles and five at Leopardstown, but has a lot in hand on this opposition at the weights.
Tom Taaffe’s Smoking Aces gets the nap in the Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Maiden Hurdle, having finished a somewhat unlucky second behind Voler La Vedette at Leopardstown at Christmas.
Quadrillon, who looked a possible star of the future when winning by 15 lengths on his debut on this track, should relish the two miles and three of the Bumper.
