Progressive Araucaria can deliver
John Kiely’s very smart bumper horse, she scrambled to victory on her debut over flights at Navan, after getting far from a clear run in the closing stages.
Araucaria improved plenty on that effort next time at Wexford, skipping ahead over two out and steadily drawing clear to beat subsequent winner, Model County Lass, by six lengths.
There is little doubt that two miles now is on the short side for the selection, but we can surely expect Ruby Walsh to make plenty of use of the six-year-old.
The Grade 2 WKD Core Hurdle is another decent contest, which can fall to Shark Hanlon’s Luska Lad.
He has been a terrific money-spinner for connections and should enjoy a fitness edge on his main opponents, having won in fine style at Punchestown last month.
Noel Meade’s Dylan Ross will prove hard to beat in the Archie Watson Memorial Bumper. He cruised to victory over He’s Our Man at Galway and the second has won in the meantime.
Meade also has prospects with Jakros, who won a bumper by 17 lengths at Downpatrick, in the Allianz Maiden Hurdle.
