Day 3 of the festival and we have 10 runners today.
OLDSCHOOL OUTLAW represents us in the Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle. Unbeaten in her 3 starts since joining the yard, she was last seen winning a Grade 3 mares contest at Fairyhouse in impressive fashion. Certainly one for the shortlist here with Mark Walsh booked to ride.
WINGMEN makes his handicap debut in the Jack Richards Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase. He’s been running consistently all season, placed on all 3 starts over fences and has been unlucky to bump into some very smart horses including Final Demand. Hopefully he can show a good account of himself with Jack Kennedy booked to ride.
In the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle we run WODHOOH. She has been a star for her connections winning 9 out of her 10 starts since joining the yard. Her sole defeat was by this years champion hurdle winner Lossiemouth at Aintree last season. A winner of the Martin Pipe last season, she’s proven that she handles the course well and looks to be a worthy leading market contender. Jack Kennedy rides.
We send out two runners in the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle. TEAHUPOO bids to regain his crown after he was just denied first place honours last year by Bob Olinger. Unbeaten in his 3 starts so far this season, he comes into the race in excellent form. Jack Kennedy rides. HONESTY POLICY has had two nice runs this season where he has been placed in Grade 1 contests. A Grade 1 novice hurdle winner at Aintree last season, he has proven that he is a stayer and can handle better ground conditions if the course continues to dry out. Mark Walsh rides.
In the Ryanair Chase we send out CROKE PARK. A dual Grade 1 winner last season over both 2m4f and 3m, he looks as though the longer trips might be more to his liking. It will be hard to oppose the leading market rivals Fact To File & Jonbon. Jack Kennedy takes the ride.
We qualified two horses for the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle . STAFFORDSHIRE KNOT carries top weight here today but has proven to been in the form of his life this season with 3 wins from 5 runs. He’s a classy horse and it wouldn’t be a shock to see him involved at the business end under Jack Kennedy. MINELLA SIXO secured himself a place in the race at the final qualifier this season in Naas where he was second. He carries a nice weight of 10st13lb and could run a big race under Sam Ewing.
In the final race of the day, the Rosconn Group Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase, we run The Enabler and Prends Garde A Toi. THE ENABLER step up in trip to 3m2f for the first time. He was last seen finishing 3rd in a Grade 3 contest over 3 miles and we have Rob James booked to ride who tends to get a fine tune out of our horses. PRENDS GARDE A TOI ran a big race to finish 4th in the Grand National Trail at Punchestown last time out. He’s proven he can stay the trip and will be a great spin round for Barry O’Neill.
Back on home turf we have 3 runner in Limerick.
MODE AVION bids to make it back to back wins as he looks to be one of the leading contenders in this 4yo hurdle. He won a handicap hurdle in fine style last time out and will be the mount of Josh Williamson who claims a useful 5lb.
In the Grade 3 mares novice hurdle we run APPLES JANE. An impressive winner of her maiden hurdle at Ayr, she failed to make an impression at Navan next time out. That was just 10 days post win and hopefully she can put a line through that last run and show a better account of herself today under Josh Williamson
Our final runner in Limerick is PANJANDRUM who steps up in trip to 3 miles for the first time. A bumper winner on debut, he hasn’t quite fired since making the switch to hurdles. He’s a big horse who will hopefully come into his own over this longer trip. Josh Williamson rides.