Get going with Maxim Gorky
Noel Meade’s five-year-old is progressive and it’s quite possible has been underestimated by the handicapper in this his first venture into such company.
He looked sure to score at Cork when falling at the third last and then redressed the balance in no uncertain manner next time, taking his maiden at Gowran Park.
The selection travelled sweetly and jumped beautifully, before buckling down in fine style from the back of the last to beat Too Scoops by a neck.
Feature event is the Carlton Hotel Galway City Handicap and a hopeful nod here falls on Jessica Harrington’s Citizenship.
He already has one major prize to his credit, landing a very valuable handicap hurdle at Leopardstown in January.
Citizenship came back to something approaching his best at Killarney earlier this month to easily win on the flat and is capable of a big run, in a typically wide open contest.
Aidan O’Brien’s once-raced Line Drummer is surely the one to beat in the claregalwayhotel.ie EBF Maiden. This son of Galileo makes a quick reappearance, having chased home his stable companion The Ferryman at Tipperary six days ago.
Dermot Weld’s Silver Concorde is probably the one the majority of punters will want to be with in the Bumper.
That is perfectly understandable, considering he has been rested and obviously geared for this since finishing third to Jezki and Ned Buntline at Leopardstown in January.
Preference, however, is for Jim Bolger’s Cul Baire, who very much caught the eye at Punchestown in April.
Partnered by an inexperienced lady rider on that occasion, he was doing all his best work at the end when fifth to Don Cantillon’s Grand Jesture. The booking of Patrick Mullins now has to be regarded as a big plus.
