Switch on to Thomas Edison in maiden hurdle

The most interesting horse on show in Ireland this weekend has to be the Tony Martin-trained Thomas Edison in the Buck Mooneys’ Maiden Hurdle at Bellewstown tonight.

His main claim to fame thus far is beating the subsequent Cheltenham and Punchestown festivals hero, Champagne Fever, in a bumper at Leopardstown at Christmas. The five-year-old wasn’t seen again until reappearing over flights, carrying the J P McManus colours for the first time, at Gowran Park 13 days ago.

In a much hotter contest than this, he was backed from 5-2 to 6-4 favourite. That race was eventually won by Maxim Gorky from Too Scoops, but Thomas Edison was tracking the leaders, and apparently full of running, when falling at the second last. It will be disappointing should he fail to deliver.