Conron© Photo Healy Racing
Jessica Harrington’s Conron merits plenty of respect when he lines up for the Larkins Pub, Restaurant, B&B And Bakery Handicap Hurdle on the first day of Killarney’s August Festival on Wednesday.
The five-year-old gelding was second in the Adare Manor Opportunity Final Handicap Hurdle at Punchestown in May — a race which has thrown up plenty of winners.
He warmed up for this task with a decent third on the Flat at the Galway Festival.
There are dangers aplenty in this 50,000 euro feature, though.
Gavin Cromwell saddles three, the pick of which may be Darver Star who won very well in Downpatrick. Wait Here could be dangerous off a feather weight after a trio of third places in good contests.
Harvest Now was second in the first juvenile hurdle of the season at Roscommon and has bright prospects of delivering in the Francie Sheehan’s Bar Killorglin 3-Y-O Hurdle.
The intermediate trip of an extended two miles and six furlongs in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Hurdle should suit Everybreathyoutake well.
Previous course winner Doctor Duffy front-running Summer Hill and thorough stayer Stacks Mountain make this a proper test.
Aidan O’Brien’s Delta Dawn has solid form in the book and will look to dominate the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden from stall one.
Dermot Weld has won two of the last three renewals of the Celtic Steps Maiden and his 78-rated Time Tunnel sets the standard.
The forecast rain would play to the strengths of Njord in the Bunkers Bar Handicap and there ought to be another win in Sheila Lavery’s charge off a mark of 71. Insane Bolt gets first-time blinkers in the Sea Lodge Waterville Handicap after a couple of close seconds in Galway and Ballinrobe.
