Platinum to strike gold again
An easy winner at Limerick on his chasing debut, he didn’t have things all his own way at Galway last time, but jumped brilliantly, showed a very willing attitude, and jockey Jonathon Burke always looked confident, even when Rock The World loomed up large.
The drop back to two miles should suit his style of running and he can make it all to land the spoils at the expense of The Game Changer.
The latter failed by a couple of lengths to give 7lbs to the aforementioned Rock The World in a similar event at Galway last time out, and that effort suggests there’s little between him and the selection.
However, Sizing Platinum, who receives 3lbs today, is less exposed, will put pressure on his rivals from the outset, and should prove very hard to catch.
In the opening maiden, over seven furlongs, Orangey Red can reverse previous form with Red Stars, and land the spoils for trainer Dermot Weld.
A close third behind Spinamiss on her debut, she was sent off 5-1 in the red-hot maiden won by the exciting Anamba at Leopardstown on Champions’ Weekend, but appeared to get outpaced mid-race before staying on again to finish sixth.
On that form, she has almost two lengths to make up on Red Stars, but she wasn’t hard ridden late on, and it’s a gap she can bridge today.
A visor is being fitted for the first time, one suspects to ensure she doesn’t lose her way mid-race once more, and if it has the desired effect, then she’ll be very hard to beat.
Red Stars, who sported a hood on her two previous outings, goes without the headgear this time, but must be respected, while Silvercups was well backed on the run-up to her debut, at Listowel, and is likely to improve on what was a pleasing first start.
In the bumper, Killahara Castle is interesting on her first start for Denis Hogan. On her debut in January, she tried to make all, but was caught late and had to settle for third behind Sir Will and Cape City Boy.
The first two home look decent sorts in the making, and this filly could fit into the same bracket. If the market speaks in favour, she’s worth siding with.
There are some potentially interesting newcomers in what is probably a tough race for punters, but Last Goodbye, with one run under his belt and Finny Maguire booked, is an obvious danger.
