Shaneshill looks another for Mullins
One of last season’s outstanding bumper performers, finishing second to Silver Concorde in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at Cheltenham before reversing that form in Punchestown’s Grade 1 event, he looks one of the most exciting novices around.
The five-year-old is strongly-fancied to follow-up his smooth hurdle debut win in Fairyhouse in this Grade 2 test.
He jumped fluently and travelled strongly in Fairyhouse, before cruising clear to beat subsequent winner Keppols Queen.
Proven over two and a half miles, Shaneshill should have most to fear from Gordon Elliott’s dual bumper-winner No More Heroes, impressive when scoring on his hurdling bow at Punchestown and another novice with immense potential.
But, over tomorrow’s two and a half miles, Shaneshill makes more appeal.
Willie Mullins might also land tomorrow’s bumper with promising four-year-old Bordini, which beat the well-touted Falcon Crest on his racecourse debut at Punchestown.
The Martaline gelding faces a tough task tomorrow, facing older rivals, notably Jessica Harrington’s pair, Moscow Magic and Rock On The Moor.
And, if the Tony Martin-trained Dara Tango can reproduce his recent third in a valuable Fixed Brush handicap hurdle in Haydock, he should prove tough to beat in the valuable Tara Handicap Hurdle.
Meanwhile, Tramore stages a rare winter Saturday fixture today and favourites Valyssa Monterg and Altiepix should be up to toping and tailing the card for punters.
The Willie Mullins-trained Valyssa Monterg, winner of three French bumpets, disappointed when 4/9 for her Irish debut in Thurles but can bounce back in the opening mares maiden hurdle.
Gordon Elliott’s Altiepix, which made the running before finishing second to another smart Gigginstown-owned four-year-old Alpha Des Obeaux (second to Black Hercules in Cork last week) in a Punchestown maiden hurdle, sets the standard in the bumper.
