Tornado Flyer© Photo Healy Racing
The National Hunt season is starting to go up a few gears with some welcome rain in recent weeks, and Willie Mullins brings out a number of exciting prospects at Punchestown on Sunday. Tornado Flyer was one of the leading bumper horses last term and the dual winner makes his eagerly-awaited jumping debut in the Punchestown Racecourse Of The Year Maiden Hurdle.
The son of Flemensfirth was third to stablemate Relegate in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival and got his day in the sun the following month, when leading home another one-two-three for the Closutton maestro in the Racing Post Champion Flat Race at this venue.
This two-and-a-half-mile event is a nice starting point for what looks a solid stayer, although it is far from a soft touch with plenty of nice prospects among his 20 rivals.
School Boy Hours and Kalum River both filled the runner-up spot in maiden company last time, while Cuneo was first-past-the-post at this venue only to lose the race in the stewards’ room.
All eyes will be on Getaway as the Mullins-trained gelding switches to fences in the GAIN Supporting Laois GAA Beginners Chase.
The point-to-point winner readily made all to beat Mengli Khan by nine lengths here in the Grade Two Sky Bet Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle and was sent of the 7-4 favourite in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.
However, he raced far too keenly and while bouncing back to land another Grade Two at the Fairyhouse Easter meeting, again disappointed here at the Festival meeting.
He should be an exciting ride over fences, while the likes of Articulum Call A Cab and Ministerforsport are other interesting recruits to chasing. Ballyneety got his jumping career off to a winning start at Gowran Park last month and has plenty of scope for improvement in the Join Our 2019 Members Club From Just 150euros Rated Novice Hurdle.
Derek O'Connor is an interesting booking on Se Mo Laoch in the K Club Handicap Chase, while Santana Plessis looks the answer to the Old House, Kill (Pro/Am) Flat Race.
