Noble can deliver
Since arriving from France, Willie Mullins’ four-year-old has won just a single race in Ireland, a maiden hurdle on this track back in September.
That masks his talent somewhat, however, because, even though he has been beaten into second on three successive occasions, has gone down to decent horses.
At Fairyhouse, Noble Inn chased home Abbyssial and was previously twice second to Analifet, at Punchestown and Fairyhouse. Both of those smart sorts, of course, are also trained by Mullins.
The selection’s latest outing came at the Cheltenham festival in the Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle, where he could only finish 11th behind Tim Easterby’s Hawk High.
Little went right for Noble Inn through the contest, but he did finish to real effect up the final hill.
Orgilgo Bay was third in that race, but Noble Inn is fancied to reverse placings on 15lbs better terms.
Robert Tyner’s Sir Abbot, successful in his only point-to-point, is the interesting one in the Connaught Telegraph Bumper.
He made an eye-catching start on the racecourse when third to Quickpick Vic and Stuccodor in a maiden hurdle at Leopardstown in January. The stewards inquired into the performance and noted the explanations offered.
Sir Abbot has to get the vote, although the travels of Willie Mullins’ New Kid In Town, who hinted at possessing ability in two points, will be worth noting.
The front-running Cheap As Chips should go close in the Treacys’ Pharmacy Handicap Chase.
She scored by two and a half lengths at Tramore nine days ago and has every chance of defying an 8lbs rise in the weights.
