Hopes high for supplemented 'Bank

Mossbank bids to justify the faith of connections when he contests the €90,000 Barry & Sandra Kelly Memorial Novice Hurdle at Navan on Sunday.

Owners Gigginstown House Stud paid €9,000 on Tuesday to supplement the five-year-old for the Grade One contest over two and a half miles.

“He’s well in himself and the owners wanted to run him,” said trainer Michael Hourigan.

Mossbank looked a bright prospect when winning his first two hurdle races at Limerick and Fairyhouse, but he was then beaten by Laetitia when stepped up to three miles at Cork on his latest start a month ago.

However, Hourigan believes three races in quick succession had taken their toll.

“When he was beaten it was his third run in the space of a few weeks. I’m hoping for a good run on Sunday,” added the County Limerick-based handler.

Hourigan has every reason to be optimistic as Powerstation, three lengths behind Mossbank at Limerick in October, has since gone on to defeat Travino and Nicanor – who fell – at Navan last month.

Those three are among five taking on Mossbank, the other two being Forty Licks and Ballyagran.