Hurricane can blow rivals away
She made a big impression, at least on this observer, when scoring at the first time of asking at Roscommon 13 days ago. A 12-1 shot, the selection came from what appeared to be an impossible position to score going away by two and a half lengths.
Of course the form is ordinary, but Hurricane Havoc has lots of scope and this is clearly not the hottest Listed event ever run.
The other Listed race on the programme, the Go Racing In Kildare Festival Finale Stakes, may be best left to John Oxx’s Roses For The Lady.
She has run well all season, on ground far too quick, and the easier the surface the better her prospects now.
Feature event at Limerick tomorrow is the ladbrokes.com Munster National, a contest which has a typically wide-open appearance.
Dancing Tornado, on his second to Alfa Beat in the Kerry National at Listowel, is probably the one to beat and Tony McCoy again journeys across to take the ride.
The nod, however, falls on Kieran Purcell’s Paddy Pub, third in the race a year ago and now racing off a mark 13lbs higher.
As a seven-year-old, though, he has a bright future and should strip fit and well for this test, having enjoyed a spin over flights when fourth to Sovota at Navan last month.
The Grade 3 PricewaterhouseCoopers Chase promises a fascinating clash between Let Yourself Go and English challenger, Cornas.
Let Yourself Go will surely ask lots of questions from the front, but Nick Williams’ Cornas is a decent horse and fancied to make the best of the 3lbs he receives from his rival.
Uncle Junior can outclass some modest opposition in the STL Logistics EBF Beginners Chase. He was returning from a very long break when beaten a length and a quarter by Wise Old Owl at Listowel.
The nine-year-old would have finished even closer, but for blundering badly four from home, and Wise Old Owl has since scored at Clonmel.
There was plenty to like about the manner in which Steeltown slammed Dark Prospect by five and a half lengths at Roscommon and he gets the vote in the Greenmount Park Novice Hurdle.
What’s on offer at Fairyhouse today is atrocious and an insult to fans of Irish racing. Gala Dancer is a token nap choice in the Winter Festival 2011 Maiden Hurdle.
There are signs Paul Nolan’s horses are hitting a little bit of form and the five-year-old did run well enough when four lengths second to Ballyhaunis at Listowel.
