Stephen’s day
Jim Bolger’s gelding is now set to get what may be required to see him to best advantage, namely a mile and a half and cut in the ground.
On a fast surface over ten furlongs at Leopradstown last time, the son of North Light was tapped for speed at a vital stage when third behind Amber Grey and Saajidah. He stayed on really well, however, and the form received a minor boost when Saajidah went on to score at Killarney.
The progressive Ballyadam Brook is fancied to make it four straight wins in the South West Bins Novice Hurdle.
He did the business at Sligo and Killarney, prior to producing his best effort to date at the Galway Festival in July.
The imposing six-year-old, with a fine blend of speed and stamina, powered home to beat the smart Final Day by three and a half lengths.
His trainer, Terence O’Brien, indicated then that Ballyadam Brook would not reappear until Listowel and has been as good as his word.
Willie Mullins’ Deutschland, a first fence faller in the Kerry National here on Wednesday, tries again in the Southampton Goodwill Chase. He’s a particularly decent chaser, when on song, and, though his jumping is now a bit of a worry, has the capacity to outclass this opposition.
Ruby Walsh partners Deutschland and he and Mullins can combine for a double with Ballyhaunis in the John J Galvin Maiden Hurdle. Ballyhaunis has obviously had problems, but his third on the flat behind Admiral Barry and Mount Helicon at Galway was a most promising effort.
