Prince can emphasise Grand National claims
He won this contest in impressive fashion a year ago and made an excellent reappearance over flights at Limerick at Christmas.
The trip then - two miles and three furlongs - should have been on the sharp side, but he cruised to an easy defeat of the useful Venture Capital. The selection stays particularly well, but also has a touch of class and is a confident choice, in a decent contest.
The nap vote falls on Charles O’Brien’s Stocktons Wing in the opening Grade 2 Juvenile Hurdle.
Second behind Blood Cotil at Leopardstown and the ultra-smart Our Conor on this track, he may have too much speed in the closing stages for Willie Mullins’ Dogora.
Glens Melody and Tasitiocht give Mullins a powerful hand in the ITBA Fillies Scheme Novice Hurdle. Preference is for Glens Melody, who got her jumping together when easily landing a Listed event at Leopardstown.
Milan Bound is the choice in the Ian Smith Memorial Bumper. He was very disappointing here in early December, but bounced back to form two weeks ago at Leopardstown when two and a half lengths behind Eoin Girffin’s well-regarded Azorian. The fact it was 14 lengths to the third was most encouraging.
The grade 2 paddypower.com Novice Hurdle at Naas tomorrow will be worth the entrance fee alone, with Defy Logic, Don Cossack and Annie Power in the field.
Defy Logic looked a potential monster when winning a maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse in hugely impressive style by a street earlier in the month, but this well tell us a lot more about him.
Don Cossack was beaten a length into second by a good horse in Mozoltov at Punchestown, but we won’t see anything like the best of him until going over fences.
The final vote falls on Willie Mullins’ Annie Power, who is unbeaten in five races and is a most exciting talent.
Mullins’ Mikael d’Haguenet rates the nap in the Woodlands Park 100 Club Nas Na Riogh Novice Chase, having jumped nicely when scoring by 12 lengths at Thurles on his latest appearance.
The grade 2 paddypower.com Chase is best left to Henry de Bromhead’s Days Hotel, now that he returns to two miles.
He was impressive when scoring over the trip at Cork and a combination of two and a half, and blundering at the third last, proved his undoing when fourth to Quito De La Roque at Thurles.
