Jim Gorman`s stable star Cobourg Lodge has to carry 10st and overcome a low draw if he is to win tomorrow`s £50,000 Eircell Handicap, but there are enough plusses in his favour to support belief that he can do it.
For one thing, Cobourg Lodge has Michael Kinane on his back and the champion jockey has an eye-catching record when he teams up with Gorman. For another, the weather forecast suggests the four-year-old will get the slight dig in the ground that is ideal for him, and yet another is the encouraging reports emanating from the Curragh about his recent work.
And that`s very encouraging, because one thing Cobourg Lodge can do is win with weight on his back. He proved that by landing the Birdcatcher as a juvenile and also with two successes at Fairyhouse and Leopardstown. On those efforts he is not badly treated with the likes of Royal South and Jacks Estate.
Being drawn two is not ideal, but Cobourg Lodge can race from off the pace and Kinane is the ideal man to weave his way through. The dangers are numerous, including Tuesday`s McDonogh winner Tushna and the in-form Basin Street Blues, but Cobourg Lodge looks a value bet to earn a big pay day.
The High Speed Handicap Hurdle has been divided and, whatever about the second division, the first part looks destined for Gift Token, who ran fourth to Perugino Diamond in the Galway Hurdle. She was only beaten a short head by the same horse at Killarney, but even the extra quarter mile tomorrow looks in her favour.
The second division could fall to the teak-tough Back To Ba- varia, who ran a decent race behind Whatcowillie during the week, but the nap goes to Sea Leopard in the six furlong handicap.
This three-time winner last year was placed over seven furlongs at the festival last season, which indicates this tougher six furlongs will be much more suitable than Ballinrobe`s where he was beaten three parts of a length by Harlenog last time.
Harlenog is now 4lb worse off,but won this race last year and could emerge again as a leading contender with Sea Leopard coming out tops this time though.
Hip Pocket is an interesting entry in the maiden hurdle, but Grinkov is marginally preferred.
