Start with In a Nutshell
He failed to win in four attempts on the flat for Kevin Prendergast, but has progressed nicely over jumps for Charles Byrnes and certainly seems capable of landing a contest such as this.
The selection began by taking fifth behind Shady Pines at Sligo and was then beaten a length and three parts into second by Hired Hand at Roscommon.
He returned to Sligo for his latest outing, failing to justify favouritism when Dessie Hughes’ Miss Accurate was threequarters of a length too good for him.
All this form over jumps has to be described as ordinary, but everything is relative and In A Nutshell looks to have an edge in this company.
If Willie Mullins’ Sicilian Secret puts his best foot forward then he has the potential to outclass four rivals in the Eamon Sheridan Plant Hire Novice Hurdle.
But he’s a horse who does his best work on the bridle and any significant rain would be a major minus to his prospects.
It might pay to rely instead on Conor O’Dwyer’s Ninth Legion, even if he does have 6lbs to find at the weights with Sicilian Secret.
Ninth Legion, however, is going in the right direction and was impressive when landing a moderate contest by 15 lengths at Wexford.
Gordon Elliott’s Some Fiddle, with Nina Carberry in the plate for the first time, should be hard to beat in the Ballinrobe Bookmakers’ Bumper.
The five-year-old stumbled after a couple of furlongs, before staying on to finish fourth to Donatis Comet at Down Royal.
Donatis Comet scored twice more subsequently and this represents a drop in class for Some Fiddle.
