Possible can defy top weight
Trained by Charles O’Brien, this Pivotal filly landed a significant gamble in a similar contest in Naas last week, when beating Red Sea Poll readily by a length and a quarter, having shown good speed throughout.
Tonight’s event, like the Naas race, is a 47-70 handicap but, due to an anomaly, Possible, now rated 79, is still eligible to take her chance.
Prior to her breakthrough success last week, the selection had finished fifth in a competitive Curragh maiden, won by Redoutable, while she ended her two-year-old campaign by finishing fourth to Bulbul at Naas.
Apprentice Ray Dawn, who rode Possible in Naas, will be on board again tonight, claiming a valuable 7lb. And, although 6lb. worse off with Red Sea Poll, she’s expected to prevail again.
The opening, Follow Tipperary Races On Twitter looks a tricky affair, although it has only attracted five runners.
Aidan O’Brien’s Tibet, successful on debut at Gowran Park before finishing sixth, when favourite, for the listed event won by Call To Battle at Leopardstown in November, will be a popular fancy, particularly if the market speaks in favour of Seamus Heffernan’s mount.
But preference is for the John Oxx-trained course and distance winner Hartani, the mount of Johnny Murtagh.
Unfancied when fifth to stable-companion Aklan on his debut at the Curragh, Hartani progressed well to score here three weeks ago, when Murtagh got first run on Offer and Joseph O’Brien, which came through to be beaten a half-length.
Offer franked the form when opening his account in Navan on Sunday and, with further improvement expected and proven stamina, Hartani should prove tough to beat.
The concluding three races are confined to point-to-pointers and Gale Force Oscar, which completed a four-timer when beating Carthalawn at Ballysteen last time, sets a decent standard in the Kedrah House Stud Novice Hunters Chase.
