Brave to go against Wicklow
IT’S rare we get to see a 161-rated hurdler in action in the first week of July.
But the Willie Mullinstrained nine-year-old Wicklow Brave fits the bill today as he reverts to hurdling in the Grade 3 Kevin Mcmanus Bookmaker Grimes Hurdle in Tipperary tonight.
Wicklow Brave is a classy performer, if a little quirky. And it’s not many dualpurpose horses that manage to register top-level success both on the flat and over hurdles.
But Wicklow turned over long odds-on favourite Order Of St George in the 2016 Irish St Leger and, in addition to winning the
2015 County Hurdle at Cheltenham, has won (in 2017) and finished second (behind Supasundae this year) in the Punchestown Champion Hurdle.
When last seen, the nine-year-old faded, having made the running to finish seventh behind subsequent Ascot Gold Cup winner Stradivarius in the Yorkshire Cup in York.
He looks head and shoulders above tonight’s rivals and, although conceding weight to all of them, should enjoy a solo in front and land the spoils.
Third behind smart stable-companions Fairyland and Van Beethoven in the Marble Hill at the Curragh before going close (in third) against Shang Shang Shang in the Norfolk at Royal Ascot, the Aidan O’brien-trained Land Force sets a high standard in the earlier Coolmore
Pride Of Dubai Tipperary Stakes.
And Jim Bolger’s Copia Verborum might confirm form with Cape Of Good Hope in the opener.