Naoise can bounce back to winning ways
Jim Bolger has enjoyed a successful run since Christmas. And Naoise, successful over course and distance early last month, has an obvious chance to bounce back to winning ways.
Successful off a mark of 49, Naoise went on to finish third to tonight's top-weight Cailin Coillteach next time and, more recently, was beaten a length by Charismas Birthday over six furlongs here.
Naoise looks best over seven furlongs and, with Kevin Manning in the saddle again, should prove a tough nut to crack.
Victory for Naoise would point to the prospects of his conqueror Charismas Birthday, despite a 6lb. hike, in the following Steen O'Reilly Solicitors Handicap. Almadaa and Tsar Paul look the chief threats to Philip Byrne's Choisir filly.
Successful at Tipperary and Killarney last summer, the David Marnane-trained Aragorn Icon has finished in the frame in four of his last five starts and deserves a change of luck.
And that break might come in the Dandelion Apprentice Handicap. Runner-up to Rocky's Pride and Matjar respectively in recent weeks, he should go close again.
John Murphy's Tide Runner, outpaced for much of the race, came home strongly to triumph over a mile last week, beating Footprint emphatically.
Up 8lb. he reappears in the Horseware Ireland Handicap and, upped to an extended ten furlongs, might be capable of following-up.
