Roberto Goldback set to strike
The eight-year-old has improved steadily in three runs this season and should now be poised to strike. Indeed, he was a trifle unlucky not to land another Grade 2 at Thurles last month. Roberto Goldback was grabbed late and beaten a head by Follow The Plan and the fact the last fence wasn’t jumped was hardly a plus. He can reverse placings with Follow The Plan, on 5lbs better terms, and cope with Scotsirish as well.
Dunguib makes his seasonal reappearance in the Grade 2 Red Mills Trial Hurdle and it will be fascinating to note his performance.
He is certainly on a retriving mission, having failed to deliver at the Cheltenham Festival in March and then running poorly when sixth to Hurricane Fly at Punchestown.
Dunguib could still go all of the way, but, for now, Luska Lad is preferred. The handicapper says he has 12lbs in hand of his rival at the weights and does enjoy a big fitness advantage.
The Ronan Lawlor Memorial Beginners Chase is a weak race and best left to Willie Mullins’ Tawaagg, beaten half a length by Rahan De Marcigny on his debut over fences at Leopardstown.
Willie Mullins trains Tawaagg and at Naas tomorrow his Day Of A Lifetime is the nap choice in the Grade 2 paddypower.com Novice Hurdle. He made a big impression on his first outing over flights at Leopardstown last month. Day Of A Lifetime jumped and travelled beautifully through the contest and then quickened in style in the closing stages to beat Gift Of Dgab by two and a half lengths.
Mullins’ Golden Silver faces a simple task in the paddypower.com Chase.
He shocked Big Zeb with a late thrust at Punchestown last time and this is yet another lucrative opportunity.
Samain, who stayed on strongly to beat promising newcomer Cairdin at Punchestown, is a third Mullins possibility in the Bumper.
The Pauline Gavin-trained Ad Idem is the one to beat in the Woodlands Park 100 Club Nas Na Riogh Novice Chase.
He revels in soft ground and jumped for fun when beating Ballymak by half a length at Navan.
