Fly set to wing home in Ryanair
Willie Mullins rising 11-year-old is essentially unbeatable here, considering his total is eight wins in as many runs.
He lost his way somewhat at the back-end of last season, but was very much on song on his reappearance in the Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown in the middle of November.
Hurricane Fly (pictured) slammed his old rival, the reigning champion hurdler, Jezki, by two and a quarter lengths and is fancied to confirm the placings.
The nap vote falls on Dermot Weld’s Windsor Park in the Copper Face Jacks Maiden Hurdle. Weld had a most unexpected reverse with long odds-on Silver Concorde on Saturday and, hopefully, it won’t be a case of lightning striking twice!
The testing conditions will hold no fears for the selection, who arrives now on the back of winning in a canter on the flat at Galway in October.
Henry de Bromhead’s Shanahan’s Turn gets the vote to land a cracking Grade 1 three-mile Topaz Novice Chase.
He certainly wasn’t the best of these over flights, but has taken really well to fences, winning both his races in fine style, at Punchestown.
The Bumper may be best left to Willie Mullins’ Bellshill, who was less than impressive when scrambling to a head success over Attribution at Thurles.
Attribution didn’t let the form down subsequently, however, when chasing home the Mullins-trained and highly regarded Bordini at Navan.
Martello Tower is the fancy to take a fascinating little three-runner Cliona’s Foundation Novice Hurdle at Limerick.
This tough sort was holding every chance when falling at the penultimate flight in the Grade 2 won by Free Expression at Navan last time.
