Shorter trip to suit Jayo
The feature looks a fascinating seven-runner affair, in contrast to the rest of the eight-race card, where quantity rather than quality will be the order of the day.
Successful at Navan and Naas in mid-season, beating Bringbackthebiff and Made In Taipan respectively, Jayo then fell short of expectations in Grade 1 company, jumping poorly when fourth to stable-companion Golden Silver in the ‘Arkle’ at Leopardstown before filling fifth spot in the Powers Gold Cup, won by Aran Concerto, at Fairyhouse.
But, returning to more manageable novice company, the Willie Mullins-trained chestnut bounced back to winning form when slamming Jaamid and Massini Magic over this course and trip (two and a quarter miles) at the Festival meeting.
And, racing again over what is probably his optimum distance, David Casey’s mount is napped to outpoint Tony Martin’s staying handicapper Royal County Star, successful over hurdles at Cork last time but likely to struggle against Jayo’s speed over this shorter trip.
The Colm Murphy-trained Bobs Display, narrow winner of a mares bumper on the track in December, might be capable of making a successful hurdling debut in the Getcover.ie Mares Maiden Hurdle.
The five-year-old Bob Back mare, well beaten behind prolific winner Luska Lad at Fairyhouse next time, was far from disgraced in her last start, when fourth behind Cheltenham Bumper fourth Quel Esprit in a winners’ event at the Punchestown Festival.
Sure to be well-schooled and with Sean Flanagan in the saddle, Bobs Display sets a decent standard and is preferred to Steady Rolling, which made a promising racecourse debut when fourth to Black Coffee over this course and distance recently.
