Back In Focus can make a winning debut over fences
The seven-year-old has had an interesting career thus far, winning a point-to-point at Kilfeacle and then a hurdle race at Haydock by six lengths for Howard Johnson.
Now he is the care of Willie Mullins and has had just one outing for the champion trainer.
That was over flights at Tipperary in July when very uneasy in the market. The vibes proved correct as well, with Back In Focus going down by two and a quarter lengths to Aughnacurraveel.
But that was his first outing in a long time and is now sure to be far fitter and shaper, as he embarks on his true calling.
On a rather disappointing card, there are only two horses in the Bumper, Princeton Plains gets the vote to defy top weight in the featured Guinness Handicap Hurdle.
He was also the fancy from this source in the Galway Hurdle, but could only manage sixth behind Rebel Fitz.
This represents a much easier assignment, however, and Princeton Plains emphasised his current well being by finishing second to Diplomat on the flat at Killarney.
The Helena Sheahan Memorial Maiden is a woeful contest, with the nod falling on Aidan O’Brien’s Exact, a remote third behind Tandem at Galway.
A similar remark can be levelled at the Tote Jackpot Guaranteed Median Auction Maiden and the hopeful nod here falls on Slipper Orchid, found to be in season after disappointing at Tipperary last time.
