Rebel Fitz difficult to oppose
Mick Winters’ charge has let his supporters down, with the exception of a win at Cork last August, since registering a memorable success in the Guinness Galway Hurdle. But he still looks a cut above today’s rivals.
Last time, he was sent off at 4/7 to make a winning start over fences in Killarney. Ridden then, as today, by Barry Geraghty, he jumped superbly but was unable to get to grips with Arnaud (rated 16lb. inferior to him over hurdles) from the second last and was beaten five and a half lengths.
Heavy ground didn’t help Rebel Fitz on that occasion, when he appeared edgy and sweated up at the start, a return to former habits.
The ground will be testing again this evening. But, with the Killarney experience behind him, he should prove very tough to beat.
The Winters-trained Samantha Jones, which bolted up in a similar handicap hurdle, admittedly on fast ground, at Cork on Friday, will be fancied to follow-up in the Sheridan Electrical Castlebar Handicap Hurdle, in which she’s 5lb ‘well-in’.
And, despite a 15lb. rise since her last chaser success, at Downpatrick, James Lambe’s mare Twin Plan might reel in frontrunning Happy New Year in the Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Chase.
