Ordinary Man looks a cut above the rest
For mere mortals, however, it will almost certainly pay to look elsewhere with a view to a possible profit and the nap vote falls on Liam Burke’s Ordinary Man in the opening maiden hurdle.
He too is a product of the point-to-point fields, having run just once between the flags. That came at Kilsheelan back in October, when the selection looked sure to score but for falling at the final fence.
He made his racecourse debut at Navan in December, finishing 16th of 29 behind stable companion Where’s The Dosh.
The stewards enquired into that performance and noted the explanations offered by both trainer-Burke and rider Shay Barry.
Ordinary Man then ran at Leopardstown at Christmas, filling fifth spot behind Prince Of Fire, in a heat which has been working out reasonably well.
Grey Soldier (third), Guzzle An Go (fourth) and Paddy O'Dee (fifth) have all won in the meantime.
The worry now, of course, is that Ordinary Man has not been seen since. Hopefully, he has simply been given time to mature and, if the market speaks in his favour, should be more than capable of landing a moderate contest.
The frustrating Prince Roco can get off the mark over fences in the first division of the Glenview and Rathbarry Studs Beginners Chase.
He has a rating of 123, which should enable him to easily win a race of this quality. Fifth to Travino at Gowran Park on his latest appearance, Prince Roco will enjoy the likely better surface and this represents a good opportunity.
If Prince Roco has been frustrating then he could hardly hold a candle to the puzzling Corskeagh Royale, who gets the nod in the second section of the same contest.
Noel Meade’s gelding has loads of ability, but is a nightmare to catch right and it is surely a case of now or never with him.
