Trí na Céile in hunt for hurdles hat-trick

Trí Na Céile should make a bold bid to complete a hurdling hat-trick in the Ballinrobe Race Committee Mares Handicap Hurdle in Ballinrobe this evening.

The five-year-old Galileo mare, which Jessica Harrington trains for JP McManus, proved frustrating to follow in her early starts over obstacles, opening her account at the seventh attempt at Kilbeggan in mid-July.

Ridden for the first time by Barry Geraghty and sent off 11/8 favourite, TríNa Céile appeared to struggle at different stages of the race but, ultimately, proved a convincing winner from Tigroney.

The selection followed-up over the same course and distance less than three weeks ago. She again appeared to come on and off the bridle before beating Give Her Bach (went on to win a mares beginners chase inTramore) convincingly by four lengths.

Raised 8lb for those wins, Trí Na Céile is unbeaten in two starts under Barry Geraghty. She should go close again here, but Norman Lee’s course and distance winner Blackandamber Vic is conceding 17lb and is probably her biggest danger.

Gigginstown House Stud will mount a three-pronged challenge for the Treacy’s Pharmacy Chase. The highest-rated of the trio, the Tony Martin-trained Savello, the choice of Bryan Cooper, gets the vote.

Winner of the ‘Grand Annual’ in Cheltenham last year, Savello landed a conditions chase at Punchestown back in June and, last time, might have struggled to stay the trip when beaten less than 14 lengths by Shanahan’s Turn when eighth in the Galway Plate.

Back over a more suitable trip (two miles and a furlong) today, Savello might have the edge over Davy Russell’s mount Arnaud, conqueror of The Game Changer on his last start over fences, in Wexford, and runner-up to odds-on Renetti over hurdles in Sligo last time.

The Gigginstown colours might be carried to victory by the consistent but frustrating As De Ferbet, runner-up in each of his four starts since joining Willie Mullins, in the concluding beginners chase.

Likely to be helped by this step-up in trip, As De Ferbet has the Tom Mullins-trained Tavern Times to beat.