Switch to hurdles can pay off for Mickelson
He is clearly no star, but represents Noel Meade, who currently has his charges in tip-top shape.
The five-year-old failed to win a bumper in four outings and Meade has clearly decided enough is enough and the time has come to try a new game.
The selection’s latest outing saw him go down by half a length to King Malik in a driving finish at Fairyhouse.
There is no point getting too excited about that, because it was a modest contest, but Mickelson wouldn’t be the first horse to show plenty of improvement granted a set of obstacles to negotiate.
Mississippi River is the obvious danger. He finished a well beaten sixth to Il Fenomeno at Punchestown, never recovering from a blunder at the third, and can at least reverse placings with the fourth, Prince Chaparral.
John Kiely trains Mississippi River and has a likely candidate as well in the shape of On The Way Out in the Wilderness Chase.
A puzzling horse over flights, he made a fine debut over fences at Punchestown when cruising to a four and a half lengths defeat of Stonemaster.
Biggest worry has to be Charles Byrnes’ Knockfierna, making her debut over fences, but getting all of the allowances. She developed into a high-class mare last season and one has to pay particular attention to her travels in the market.
The bumper is best left to Willie Mullins' frustrating Local Celebrity, who has proved costly to follow.
He again disappointed when fourth behind Daring Article at Tipperary, but this softer surface will play to his strengths and this does look a weak enough contest.
Noras Fancy, who won a maiden by 22 lengths at Galway on Sunday, turns out under a mandatory 6lbs penalty in the Powerstown Desmene Handicap Hurdle.
She certainly looks the one to beat, although it is well to note the handicapper has only raised Noras Fancy by 8lbs in the future.
