Perfect opportunity for Morga to strike at Down Royal
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.
Carlyan was very unlucky in defeat at Downpatrick last time, and can make amends in the SHS Group Handicap Hurdle. Peter Casey’s mare was mounting what looked like a race-winning challenge before all but unshipping her rider at the final flight. In the circumstances she did well to finish as close as she did.
Having shown promise on her previous start, which was her first of the season, she has the appearance of a mare on an upward curve, and can earn an overdue first success here. With David Mullins claiming a valuable 3lbs, she can reverse Downpatrick form with Ciankyle.
The biggest danger may come from Mossy Island, who made the breakthrough last time. Sabrina Harty’s lightly-raced eight-year-old should go well in his bid to follow up.
The opening juvenile maiden hurdle looks a real cracker, and only a tentative selection goes to Tudor City, from the in-form Tony Martin stable. The son of Yeats landed quite a gamble when getting on top late in a modest flat handicap at the Galway Festival and, in doing so, left the impression there could be plenty more to come from him.
Straight after that victory his trainer revealed he had been well schooled and that an outing over obstacles was on the horizon. The booking of Ruby Walsh catches the eye, and he is preferred to another hurdling newcomer, B Cosmos.
