Contest made for Ted Veale
Tony Martin’s charge is a classy sort when on song, as evidenced by the fact the seven-year-old is a Cheltenham festival winner, but doesn’t always find a huge amount off the bridle.
What he wants is loads of pace and the opposition tiring and then coming back to him in the closing stages.
This heat houses three who often like to bowl along near the front, The Black Russian, Un Beau Roman and Enjoy Responsibly.
There is every possibility then that it will work out perfectly for the selection, who warmed up for this test with a solid third on the flat behind Rebel Fitz and in-form Alton Bay at the Listowel festival nine days ago.
John Kiely’s Hickson is the choice in the Bumper. He made his debut at Killarney in July when third to Solatentif and Hurricane Darwin, with the subsequent winner, Red Spinner, behind in sixth.
Not a whole lot went right for Hickson. He was a bit free in the early stages, wasn’t helped by the slow gallop for much of the race and was too far back off the home turn.
The modest Aidan O’Brien-trained A Greater Force looks best in the moderate www.roscommonracecourse.ie Maiden.
He was under the pump a long way from home at Listowel, but did keep going to finish a close third behind Asbury Boss and Break My Mind. The blinkers utilised on that occasion are now left off.
Dushrembrandt, struggling to find some form for a while, hinted there may be better to come when fourth to Baby Whizz at Galway earlier in the month and gets the vote in the Roscommon On-Course Vets Handicap Chase.
