‘No knowing what No More Heroes has under his bonnet’
A point-to-point graduate and dual bumper winner before getting off the mark over hurdles in impressive style at Punchestown last month, Elliott’s five-year-old now tests the water at Grade Two level in County Meath.
“Gordon has me booked for No More Heroes in the Navan Novice Hurdle over two and a half miles, a trip that suited him well when he won easily last time,” Geraghty said.
“But this is a horse that proved his pace last season winning back-to-back bumpers. This is a tough one but there’s no knowing what he has under his bonnet.”
Willie Mullins has won the last three renewals and is represented by top-class bumper performer Shaneshill, who made a fine start to his jumps career at Fairyhouse last month.
Noel Meade last won the prize with Aran Concerto in 2006 and this year saddles Couleur France, who struck for the second time over timber at Fairyhouse recently.
Meade said: “He came on a good bit from his penultimate run to his last run, but he needs to come on again now as this is a big step up in class. It looks a very hot race.
“He’s in good form, though, and has been running consistently well, so hopefully he’ll put up another good show.”
Pulled Mussel is an interesting contender for Robert Tyner, having won a Cork bumper by 19 lengths in the spring before making a successful debut over hurdles at the same track early last month.
Tyner said: “He’s a nice horse, but it’s a good race and we’ll see how it goes.
“We don’t want to look too far ahead. Let’s get Sunday out of the way. We’ll know a lot more after this race.”
* Conditional 7lb claimer Ryan Day was hit with a 10-day ban for failing to ride out Lochnell for third place at Doncaster yesterday.
