North Shore can deliver for Gavin Cromwell in Killarney
Gavin Cromwell's North Shore goes in the Killarney Avenue Hotel Maiden Hurdle at 1.22 on Saturday. Pic: ©INPHO/Tom Maher
North Shore can get a busy weekend of racing in Ireland off to the best possible start for punters by winning the Killarney Avenue Hotel Maiden Hurdle, the first of eight races at the Kerry venue on Saturday.
Trained by Gavin Cromwell, North Shore was highly tried in the season just ended, finishing third to the classy Narciso Has in a Grade Two contest on his stable debut at Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting before finishing fourth behind the same rival in a Grade One at the Dublin Racing Festival.
He then failed to land a blow in the Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, finishing 12th, before falling in a Fairyhouse Grade Two on Irish National day.
Saturday’s assignment looks considerably easier than anything he has been tasked with to date and he ought to deliver.
Closutton debutant Portnahapple, twice a runner-up on the Flat at the Curragh, could prove his biggest threat.
Even if Portnahapple finds one or two too good on his jumps debut, it should be a good day for Willie Mullins with Magico in the Mongey Communications Maiden Hurdle, Sainte Lucie in the MD O'Shea's Tourist Attraction Mares Hurdle, O'Moore Park in the Tote Killarney National Handicap Chase, and debutant Linford in the bumper all shaping like likely winners.
Saturday’s Flat action comes from Naas where the most appealing bet on the card comes in the Gresham House Fillies Maiden.
The Jessica Harrington-trained Cromac Quay shaped well when third to Skydance on debut at Leopardstown last month and the fact the runner-up, Thundering On, has since won a Group 3 suggests it was a decent contest.
With the benefit of that experience, Cromac Quay should prove hard to beat.
After a week of Ballydoyle dominance in the Derby trials at Chester, Pierre Bonnard can book his ticket to Epsom by winning the Group 3 Cashel Palace Hotel Derby Trial Stakes at Leopardstown on Sunday.
The Camelot colt lost his status as Derby favourite after a disappointing return when seventh in the Ballysax Stakes last month but will surely strip fitter for that run and is fancied to bounce back to winning ways.
Stablemate Signora, successful at Limerick last time out, can strike in the other Group 3 on the card, the Al Shira'aa Racing "Mutamakina" Stakes.
Sunday’s jumps action comes from Cork where Doctor Du Mesnil should make a belated breakthrough over obstacles by winning the Springfort Hall Country House Hotel Maiden Hurdle.
1.22 North Shore (Nap)
1.53 Magico
2.25 Sainte Lucie
3.00 Impero
3.35 Sandor Clegane
4.10 Emily Love
4.45 O'Moore Park
5.17 Linford
1.22 Portnahapple
1.53 Pure Logic
2.25 Break My Soul
3.00 Ragmans Corner
3.35 Da Capo Glory
4.10 Gaoth Chuil
4.45 Happy Jacky
5.17 Mike Des Mottes
1.33 Carry The Flag
2.03 Poweracclaim
2.35 Confucius
3.10 Bint Majestic Roi
3.45 Pass Me If You Can
4.20 Cromac Quay (NB)
4.57 Eretria
5.30 Perisher
1.33 Sun Goddess
2.03 Eichan San
2.35 Selwyn
3.10 Genesis
3.45 Ocean's Breath
4.20 Flower Forest
4.57 Mixed Feelings
5.30 Pierre Grosse
1.20 Khafar
1.55 Cannes (NB)
2.30 Signora
3.05 Alcantor
3.40 Pierre Bonnard (Nap)
4.15 Wickedly Wootton
4.50 Candleford Green
5.20 Keepsgettingbetter
1.20 Valentino Eclipse
1.55 Almazann
2.30 City Of Memphis
3.05 Catalina Delcarpio
3.40 Endorsement
4.15 Beatific
4.50 Diamond Exchange
5.20 Bay Of Stars
1.30 Maestro Des Pins
2.05 Blue Train
2.40 La Cote Fleurie
3.15 Lady Bluebird
3.50 Jaadil
4.25 Doctor Du Mesnil
5.00 Only For Our Man
5.30 Aine
1.30 Arouet
2.05 Shirzan
2.40 Divaboriva
3.15 Eastmore
3.50 Way Down South
4.25 Jeroboam Machin
5.00 Mistyburn
5.30 Cinating
