Pakora bids for poignant success

Pakora would be a poignant winner if she could land the spoils in the Racing Post (Mares) Hurdle at Bellewstown.

Mick O’Toole was laid to rest on Monday, and in latter years the legendary former leading trainer acted as an informal racing manager to Pakora's owner Marie Donnelly.

Mrs Donnelly, the wife of Joe, a leading bookmaker in times past, has enjoyed plenty of success with the likes of Melon and Al Boum Photo - victories O'Toole derived great pleasure from.

Willie Mullins has care of Melon and Al Boum Photo and he thinks a fair bit of Pakora too, as his post-race remarks at Galway at the end of last month revealed.

The grey easily secured Listed honours in a novice hurdle on that occasion and the Closutton maestro views her as one that can go to the top if they can keep her right.

Pakora’s assignment might not be quite a penalty kick, but back against her own sex, the daughter of Gentlewave should be difficult to beat.

Paul Townend rides Pakora and he also combines with Mullins in the Bluegrass Horse Feeds Maiden Hurdle through Kolumbus

This Robin Des Champs gelding goes up in trip after finishing third at Kilbeggan last time and he will have his supporters again. The Big Lense is another to note as he started off promisingly with a point-to-point win and is a half-brother to a decent one in Kerry Lee’s Happy Diva.

The addition of a tongue-strap may aid The Big Lense here for Gordon Elliott and Barry Geraghty. Jarob won the featured Mullacurry Cup Handicap Hurdle in 2015 before disappointing in the two-and-a-half-mile contest last year.

He returns to top the weights in the At The Races-backed showpiece, which also sees 2017 victor Runyon Rattler try his luck again.