Berties dream run to continue
Paul Gilligan’s six-year-old is going from strength to strength and will revel in a surface which certain to be extremely testing.
The Golden Tornado gelding shocked long odds-on Glenstal Abbey at Sligo and any notions that was a fluke were completely dispelled at Galway on Sunday.
Taking on a number of rivals who had a far higher rating, Berties Dream made every yard of the running, storming home eight lengths clear of Truckers Delight.
It wasn’t lost on the handicapper, obviously, who immediately moved the selection from a mark of 111 to 133, a rise of 22lbs.
Warne, on a hat-trick mission, and For The Staff, who took a moderate contest at Cork in a canter, are decent opposition, but Berties Dream to come through with flying colours is the prediction.
Only five are set to face the starter in the Cronins’ Foodstore Cork Road Killarney Bumper, a contest which essentially can be reduced to three.
Willie Mullins’ Vertige Dore and Eric McNamara's Garryglass are interesitng newcomers and how they travel in the market will tell us plenty.
The vote, however, falls on Philip Rothwell’s Paddy O Dee, who was a 25-1 shot when two lengths runner-up behind Street Legal over flights at Down Royal last Friday night.
The Kelly Foley and Co, in association with Lloyd Fitpatrick Accountants, three-year-old Hurdle is probabley best left to Suprise Vendor.
He made a winning start over jumps at Roscommon, beating Ravati by three lengths. A further seven lengths away in third was Golan Go, with Law Officer well behind in sixth.
Golan Go has since scored at Galway, while Law Officer won at Tramore. As a result both now have to renew rivalry with Suprise Vendor on exactly the same terms as at Roscommon.
