Perfect opportunity for Morga to strike at Down Royal

A very difficult card at Down Royal this afternoon, but Morga looks worthy nap material in the Kerry Foods Rated Hurdle. Dessie McDonogh’s five-year-old looked a decent recruit to hurdling when winning his first two starts, and also when a close third behind McKinley at Galway last year.

His form tailed off a little after that, but there were definite signs of a return in his last few outings, across both codes, and if he can take a small step forward from the most recent of them, when third behind Vive La France at Galway, he’ll take plenty of beating.

Dai Bando looks the biggest danger. He also boasts very smart juvenile hurdling form and, with Ruby Walsh booked, should go well.