Progressive Kitten Rock can complete hat-trick this afternoon
Kitten Rock looks the best horse O’Grady has put through his hands for a while and was recently given an entry in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.
That was surely a trifle ambitious, but he is on a hat-trick mission now and certainly heading in the right direction.
He began his campaign by winning in fine style on this track and followed by slamming another Mullins inmate, Max Dynamite, by 14 lengths at Limerick.
Glens Melody is a much better horse than Max Dynamite and likely to provide a far sterner test for the selection.
For instance, she only gave best to Quevega in the Mares’ Hurdle at Cheltenham in March and ran a cracker on her reappearance at Leopardstown at Christmas when a highly promising fifth behind Lieutenant Colonel.
Lots Of Memories is the choice in a fascinating little five-runner Grade 2 Woodlands Park 100 Novice Chase.
He was well beaten when third to Don Poli and Apache Stronghold in a Grade 1 at Leopardstown last time, but that was probably the best contest of its type run so far this season.
Noel Meade’s Russian Bill gets the vote to make a winning debut over jumps in the INH Stallion Owners’ EBF Maiden Hurdle.
This tough sort found great reserves of stamina at Leopardstown when beating Cappacon a nose in a two and a half mile bumper.
Willie Mullins’ Potters Point will bring a big reputation with him for the Bumper and may well win in a canter.
But Gordon Elliott’s once-raced Tombstone, a promising third over flights behind Aminabad at Wexford in November, could make a race of it.
The second then, Domesday Book, and the fourth, Lean Araig, have both won the meantime to give the form a solid appearance.
Leopardstown tomorrow is all about Mullins’ Vautour, as he attempts to get his Cheltenham prospects back on track in a very disappointing three-runner Grade 2 Killiney Novice Chase.
A brilliant young horse, he ran no sort of race when dead-heating with Ted Veale for second at Leopardstown, 17 lengths adrift of the winner, Clarcam.
Reportedly now giving all of the right signals at home, Vautour has to win this in style if Cheltenham is to continue to be a realistic target.
Mireya, who ran well enough when fifth to Carrigmoorna Rock at Leopardstown, could crop up in the Club Members’ Handicap Hurdle.
