Alberta poised to make his experience count
The Choisir gelding made an encouraging debut at Cork in December, when runner-up to Paul Cashman’s Catching Shadows, which went on to triumph for James Ewart on his British debut at Musselburgh in January.
Trained for that Cork run by Turlough O’Connor and subsequently bought by Elliott, Alberta stuck to his task well up the Mallow straight and finished eight and a half lengths clear of the third.
He gave the impression that he should be capable of a bumper success and his experience might give him the edge today over the Willie Mullins-trained newcomer Hot On Her Heels, a daughter of Stowaway.
The Willie Austin-trained Emcon, winner of a Cork bumper back in November, sets the standard in the Irish Stallion farms Mares Maiden Hurdle.
This Vinnie Roe mare built on her Cork success when finishing fifth to Lyrical Theatre in a listed mares event.
And, having her second start over hurdles, she ran a cracker on the same track when finishing second to Killeena House, clear of the third and with subsequent winner Aunt Nora in fourth spot.
Admittedly, Killeena House has been unplaced in three subsequent efforts in handicap company.
But in the context of today’s race, Emcon should prove tough to beat at this level.
She holds Gordon Elliott’s Antilope Du Seuil on Navan form and might have more to fear from the Arthur Moore-trained Dark Sunshine, fourth to Bonny Kate in a bumper at Punchestown after winning her point-to-point for Liam Burke in Inch.
Bryan Cooper travels north for one ride and might make the trip worthwhile on board 113-rated Akorakor, back with Gordon Elliott, in the opening Easy Done It Maiden Hurdle.
