Hurricane Fly can make it another great day for team Mullins© Photo Healy Racing
3:40pm There's the the usual eccentricity to this event with the 2009 and 2010 winners renewing rivalries. Shin A Vee won in 2009 but was narrowly beaten by COOL WARRIOR the following year and, while Derek O'Connor is a notable booking, Shin A Vee has been absent for 772 days and is now passed over. Preference is for 12 year old COOL WARRIOR, who at least has proven fitness on his side. The other 14 runners have mustered just 10 point to points wins between them and finding a form alternative to either of the two previous winners is difficult. Ten year old Norwich Flyer has three point to point wins to his name though and may play a prominent roll while Enniskillen who worringly is still a maiden point to pointer, ran ok in the Ladies Cup on Tuesday and has minor claims. The Begrudger is a dual point to point winner a long time ago but hasn't shown anything worth mentioning recently. (TW)
4:20pm Almost any one of about 12 horses can win this fiercely competitive race. HOME FARM can figure prominently having run a cracker in the Irish National (finishing ahead of Sweeney Tunes . Both have solid claims here if reproducing that effort. The Real Article was a high class hurdler who now makes his handicap chase debut having run well enough in novice events recently. He hasn't looked as good at chasing thus far and while handicapping may well bring about an improvement, heavy ground won't help his cause. His stablemate Solstice Knight, a winner latest, is another to consider having shown himself to be a capable type a long time ago before injury interrupted his career while J.P. McManus' pair Competitive Edge and Carlingford Lough (which has shaped as though there is a big handicap in him) can get involved. Spring Heeled looks a contender having run well latest and with his rider claiming 5lbs while White Star Line, Avondhu Lady Saoirse Dun Caheronaun and Forty Foot Tom are other form horses and have chances. Immediate Response (Ruby Walsh's choice over Terminal makes his handicap chase debut but may not be ahead of the handicapper. Shangani represent Britain and has claims having run well in a similar contest at Cheltenham in March. (TW)
4:55pm NOVAROV is a dour stayer and won his beginners' chase at Gowran latest in spite of the short 2m4f trip. He looks favourably enough treated over fences and might represent some value in this open looking contest. Panther Claw is the obvious form choice having run really well in each of his latest three handicap starts, including a good fifth placing in the Irish National. Goonyella was himself fancied in the Irish National but pulled up early with a slipped saddle. He comes from the hunter chase scene but is only six and could run well from his mark. Vesper Bell has obvious claims on overall form also while Mr Goodenough one of the better graduates of the Bishopscourt Cup, cannot be dismissed having been brought down latest. Wise Oscar behind Panther Claw latest, races from 3lbs out of the handicap but is another with claims from a low weight. (TW)
5:30pm HURRICANE FLY looked better than ever when winning the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham latest and there is no real reason to oppose him. He did hit a flat spot in-running during that race but soon went through the gears in good style to defeat Rock On Ruby comfortably enough. Rock On Ruby looks the obvious danger and while he beat HURRICANE FLY in the 2012 Champion, the selection may not have been at his best then. He should nonetheless give 'The Fly' a race. Thousand Stars ran another cracker at Aintree latest and is at his best at this time of year and can place while Rebel Fitz needs to improve to figure. So Young and Midnight Game should struggle while it's a long way from Kilbeggan and Bellestown for Mister Benedictine. (TW)
6:05pm Patrick Mullins was the only dissenting voice I heard, when the whole country was singing off the same 'hymn-sheet' about PONT ALEXANDRE'S cast-iron Cheltenham prospects. The record breaking amateur had a slight concern that the old course is a speed orientated track. Since the Festival the vibe has been that Pont Alexandre wasn't at his best when third behind The New One in the Neptune. However, when you see what the Twiston-Davies horse has since achieved in 'all-aged' company at Aintree, narrowly going down to Zarkandar – the form is put into a bit of context. So impressive at Navan and Leopardstown before that, Pont Alexandre is surely entitled to another chance to go and show the world his true worth. Going back to the younger Mullins view – he reasoned that Un Atout might lack a gear in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle. Un Atout wasn't disgraced there when fourth behind real top-notchers in Champagne Fever, My Tent Or Yours and Jezki. It'll be interesting to see how he goes now in the market, in relation to his stable companion, Pont Alexandre, but the selection is rated 3Ibs superior on official figures. The German-bred is expected to edge it. Ubak looks progressive after an Aintree romp is a Grade 2 last time. He was a 100/1 shot though, in the aforementioned Neptune, finishing seventh, leaving him with plenty of ground to find with Pont Alexandre. The assessor says that Mullaghanoe River and Sizing Rio have plenty to do in this company. Nice young prospects and all as they are – either would be a surprise victor of this. (EM)
6:40pm UN DE SCEAUX was seriously impressive when winning his maiden hurdle over the course and distance in February. He faces a much different level of competition now but perhaps he'll prove up to the task. With a rating of 145, Waaheb sets a fairly lofty standard. His movements in the betting should reveal plenty. Eclipsed as a fours on chance at Fairyhouse in February, the talented Dermot Weld performer needs to leave that effort behind him but the real Waaheb could easily show up now on the back of a two month break. Moscow Mannon didn't come up to the mark last time but it's a bit early to be giving up on him yet. He'll surely make a bold bid to make the frame – at least. Rated just behind Moscow Mannon, on 130 and 132 respectively, Clonbanan Lad and Cops And Robbers have place claims but hardly any more than that. Wedding Present is a lovely type but he's likely vulnerable to those with a bit more 'toe' over this distance. (EM)
7:10pm American Jennie gave Mick Cullen a day to remember at the Festival here back in 2007 and her daughter, Carrigmore Katie catches the eye at the head of this field. Cullen does well with his string, particularly his mares, so this five-year-old could be primed to go well here on her debut. Having said that, she's going to have to be well out of the ordinary to beat all these. The Galway grouping, the Tiger Tail Syndicate, unfortunately lost their promising youngster, Celtic Folklore, at Leopardstown in December 2011. They have a nice replacement in Robina Mai and after a more than satisfactory debut when second at Wexford on St Patrick's Day, this Willie Mullins runner has to be a major contender. Robert Tyner has a big shout with his pair, County Champions and Table Tips but we have to come down in favour of just one and the vote falls the way of TROPICAL THREE. Well-bred, experienced, and possessing of a reasonable level of talent, Michael Hourigan's grey looks good enough to reward each-way support. (EM)
7:45pm This is being billed as a match between Salsify (won this in 2011) and Oscar Delta after their much-talked about Cheltenham meeting. Such chat usually has bookmakers rubbing their hands together with glee. Oscar Delta obviously raises his game in the Cotswolds and you only have to look at his second last effort, at Leopardstown, behind Salsify, to see that he's well capable of producing ordinary form too. They were calling it heavy in advance of Thursday's card but the ground could well have dried out plenty before this event comes about. Salsify is always vulnerable on a 'tacky or gluey' surface so you can see that the layers have a chance of getting the big two beaten. You really couldn't be having All Or Now or Parsons Pistol on your mind and in fairness a win for Family Official would have to be viewed as a surprise too. That leaves us with Western Charmer and FESTIVE AFFAIR. Western Charmer has 'bled' in the past but he came right to justify plenty of support in an open at Athenry lately. A former real decent type and a previous course winner, the Good Thyne gelding has to be respected. No doubt, it's a big ask for a five-year-old, but Festive Affair looks promising and he does get nine pounds. He impressed plenty at Killeagh in January after which Enda Bolger said of the close relation to Merry Gale: "This fellow was just too big to do anything with last season. He should be a much better horse the next time as I thought that he would just need the run today. He also jumps a bank very well." Anyway, an excellent effort when runner-up to Mossey Joe at Cork at Easter, allied to Derek O’Connor's presence in the saddle, sways one into the Festive Affair camp. (EM)
