Sandymount Duke should relish step up to three miles
This six-year-old, owned by Ronnie Wood of Rolling Stones fame, should relish the step-up to three miles in the T & V Novice Hurdle and is a confident choice.
Winner of a Listowel bumper last September and, fourth to Yorkhill in a hot winners’ event at the Punchestown Festival, Sandymount Duke was narrowly foiled by Willie Mullins’ French import Limini when he returned to hurdling in a two-mile maiden at Punchestown in mid-May.
And, appreciating an extra half-mile, he made no mistake on the same track three weeks ago when getting the better of the experienced Klinnsman and De Name Escapes Me.
The selection looks a dour stayer, so this three miles should be ideal. And, if he copes with Kilbeggan’s unique undulations, he should register his second success over flights.
Gordon Elliott holds the key to the Ladies Day July 17th Novice Chase, running two last-time-out winners, Akorkakor and Shadow Catcher. Marginal preference is for Akorakor, successful over this course and distance, when beating Macnicholson, over Limerick scorer Shadow Catcher.
Emmet Mullins is expected to make the perfect start to his training career with St. Stephen’s Green in tonight’s bumper. He started joint-favourite for his debut in the Goffs Land Rover Bumper at the Punchestown Festival.
Although never involved, St. Stephen’s Green caught the eye, finishing seventh behind Petit Mouchoir.
