Barra© Photo Healy Racing
Barra who finished second to Let's Dance in Trull House Stud Mares' Novices´ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March, returns to action at Wexford today.
The Gordon Elliot-trained French-bred will be ridden by Davy Russell and is one of five declared for the Casey Tarmacadam Mares Hurdle.
After that excellent effort at Prestbury Park, she then finished third to Augusta Kate in a Grade One at Fairyhouse, before failing to make an impact on her next two starts at Punchestown Festival.
The bay six-year-old takes a significant drop in class now and it will be disappointing if she does not make her mark in this two-and-a-half-mile affair.
Elliott is represented in every other race on the card. He saddles Ned Stark in the feature Casey Precast Handicap Chase, with Davy Russell again takes the ride on the nine-year-old gelding.
The son of Wolfe Tone was down the field on his debut for Elliott at Gowran last month, but that was his first run since April 2016 and more can be expected of him now. Tesseract is likely to prove popular with punters, despite disappointing on his handicap debut at Galway, while others to consider in this competitive contest are Static Jack My Hometown and 2015 winner Dandridge
Joseph O'Brien trains Tesseract, and his Chess Grand Master looks a leading contender in the opening Casey Concrete Blocks Maiden Hurdle. The Galileo gelding was seventh on his debut over timber at Thurles earlier this month and should improve for that. Roseriver Has appears the main danger. He finished third to the ill-fated Fayonagh on his first start over hurdles at Fairyhouse and Barry Geraghty will be aboard now.
Geraghty again teams up with Noel Meade for the ride on Itsallhappening in the competitive-looking Casey Concrete Gorey Handicap Hurdle, who has been a beaten favourite or joint-favourite on his last five starts. Dromore Lad and No Pressure Pat both won last time out, while Westinmare (first-time blinkers) and Dry Run are other leading contenders.
Liz Doyle recorded a double at Thurles on Thursday and might be able to strike again with Without Limites in the Casey Brothers Supporting Their Local Racecourse Beginners Chase. Felix Mendelssohn Hardline Itsonlyrocknroll and Mount Hanover look the ones to focus on in the Casey Cattle Slats Maiden Hurdle, while Best Of Dubai and Sassy Diva are the stand-out names in the concluding Irish Stallion Farm EBF Mares (Pro/Am) Flat Race.
