Longer trip should suit Its The Ice I Like
The ex-winning point-to-pointer got off the mark on the track when easily taking a bumper at Clonmel in November.
Then at Navan last month, carrying the JP McManus colours for the first time, the selection went off a heavily-backed odds-on shot in an 18-runner maiden hurdle.
He looked set to deliver for most of the two miles, but was briefly outpaced heading to the last by eventual winner, Abou Ben, and, though battling all the way to the line, went under by a nose.
It was a further 15 lengths back to the third, which was encouraging, and stepping up to two and a half miles now should greatly favour Its The Ice I Like.
Tyner also has a strong candidate in Strange Talk, a promising third over flights at Leopardstown at Christmas, in the Follow Nina On Twitter Bumper.
Preference, however, is for Willie Mullins’ once-race Dr Machini, who was well touted prior to her debut at Wexford in late October.
She went off the even-money favourite that day, but could not cope with main market-rival, A Country Girl, going down by a length.
The form looks reasonable, on the basis that A Country Girl has since run well in a winners’ bumper at Navan and scored over flights at Tramore.
As well as that the selection has been given plenty of time to mature and is likely to take all of the beating now.
Ted Walsh’s That’ll Do Me could provide the answer to the Costa Coffee Dock Rated Hurdle.
He certainly gave the impression of being rapidly on the upgrade when running away with a Punchestown handicap to the tune of 15 lengths.
One of his more interesting rivals is Our Monty, unbeaten in three races for Willie Mullins, but not seen since winning the Cork National in November of 2009.
