The Going may be on the softer side of Yielding by time of the race but this is one of the best draining tracks in Ireland so should be no worse than soft.

 

A competitive 17 runner handicap with 3 reserves to guarantee enhanced places.

 

At the top end of the market Martha Devine is the one who could literally be anything and is on handicap debut after 3 runs at 2 miles, 2 and a half and two and 3/4 miles it won last time out and its hard to assess where the ceiling may be? Nathanials Dream for Tony Martin has more mixed signals about form and trip but its a yard where when the money goes down you can usually guarantee a plot is afoot so watch this space. WILD HUNT was runner up over Course and Distance last time off 113, its won recently off a mark of 96 and 106, its now up to 116 and although feared as a real danger I'm banking on it having reached a mark and surpassed it that it can now win off again in the short term. Salmanino is another in form horse having been a runner up at Naas and winning at Punchestown, it was pulled up last time but lost a shoe and off a mark of 106 is one like Wild Hunt to fear but one I just feel has reached a ceiling mark for now. 

 

There are more dangers like Sir Bob, who I feel is best at shorter trips especially with rain about, Kilbarry Chianti, Ballyadam Destiny and Mare Quimby who all have e/w squeaks on some form lines and who could easily run big races here. At bigger odds is Itsnotinit who may well be in it today IF it did turn really heavy especially, all its best form is on deeper ground and if it is heavy by off time one to bear in mind for a late shrapnel bet.

 

The 3 I'm most keen on and confidently so though are THEDANCINGFARRIER, CAESAR ROCK and JOHN ADAMS.

 

THEDANCINGFARRIER has Course wins off marks of 95 and 101 at two and a half miles, Course form is a big asset but some question its stamina, however if you look back far enough you'll find a 3 mile P2P win where the clear evidence was that it ran to and through the line so at the Odds (mainly due to stamina concerns) I'm happy to take that P2P evidence on board. CAESAR ROCK is in our Tracker to follow on the back of some good runs, it won a Novice Hurdle last time after some early handicap runs suggested the mark was about right, it has a prominent running style which suits this track and up 6lbs is one I see as an improving horse with some untapped potential. JOHN ADAMS is more speculative but it combines Hurdling and Chasing, its won at the trip and rain would not be a problem and I think a Handicap Hurdle mark of 108 is possibly lenient and its over-priced as a result.