Poli looks up to task
He is clearly not one of the stars in Willie Mullins’ yard, but does seem to possess sufficient ability to land a modest contest such as this.
The selection was well beaten into second first time out in his native France, at Auteuil, but still went off at short odds on his reappearance at Navan in December.
The 4-7 shot, however, went down by half a length to Noel Meade’s Festive Felon, after holding every chance all the way up the straight.
Festive Felon then trailed in a remote fourth of four behind Clondaw Court back here earlier in the month to leave questions marks against the form.
The plus side, though, is that the third at Navan, Courage, went on to land a competitive handicap at Leopardstown at Christmas. On a day of limited betting opportunities, Don Poli shapes as the safest wafer.
Mireya, third behind Saturday’s Boylesports’ Hurdle winner at Leopardstown, Gilgamboa, and Rightdownthemiddle at Punchestown, gets the vote in the Thurles Handicap Hurdle.
Her most interesting rival is Letter Of Credit, running off a mark 16lbs below his current rating over fences.
Blazing Sonnet gets the nod in the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Beginners Chase. This is a modest contest by its very nature, confined to horses rated 109 or less over flights.
The selection, however, split the 126 rated Aibrean and Back In A Tic (119) over fences at Naas and that was encouraging.
Sonny B, who may have been in need of the outing, and possibly didn’t stay two miles and five, when third to Captainofthefleet at Limerick, is the choice in the thurles.ie Maiden Hurdle.
