Missunited can continue Winters dream summer
The ground is certain to be particularly testing and the progressive five-year-old looks best equipped to handle such conditions.
A winner of three races, two bumpers and a maiden hurdle, the selection made an excellent start on the flat at Leopardstown in early July.
In a driving finish, Missunited was beaten a short head into second by Oilily on a surface that was, arguably, too quick for her.
It is interesting that Winters has now booked Seamie Heffernan for the mare, as he was the pilot who guided Rebel Fitz to success on the flat at Clonmel in May.
Tommy Carmody’s horses continue in terrific form and Hartside can prove another for him in the McWilliam Park Hotel Claremorris Handicap.
He is seeking a hat-trick, having scored over a mile and a half at Tramore and two miles at Wexford last Friday night.
Hartside has been hammered by the handicapper, up 16lbs, but handles heavy ground really well and that’s a major plus.
Osana gets the vote in the Water Towers Chase, a contest in which you could not rely on any of the seven possibilities.
Edward O’Grady’s charge, however, wasn’t disgraced when eighth to Bob Lingo in the Galway Plate and might be good enough.
Shabra Emperor, grabbed inside the furlong pole when beaten by Stocktons Wing at Sligo a week ago, gets the nod to go one better in the Friends Of Western Alzheimers Handicap.
