Lighting up Plate Trial

THE Charles Byrnes-trained Sea Light is a hopeful choice for the Galway Plate Trial Handicap Chase, feature of tomorrow’s National Hunt card in Limerick.

Successful only once over fences, at Clonmel in June of last year, this 10-year-old scored five times over hurdles and shaped as if a handicap chase win could be on the cards when fourth to Kaiser Black in the Connacht National at Roscommon last month.

Chasing the leaders when switched between the last two fences, he was beaten seven and a half lengths and is expected to confirm that form with top-weight Net D’ecosse and stablecompanion Shanpallas. But it looks a tough race and he is a token each-way selection.

Earlier, Eoin Doyle might double-up with Zaofu, successful at Dundalk and narrowly beaten on his hurdling bow at Gowran, in the Limerick Racecourse Family Fun Maiden Hurdle and St Lawrence Gap in the Follow Limerick On Twitter Rated Hurdle.

The latter’s last hurdle win came at Tramore in August. But he wasn’t disgraced when sixth to Sea The Lion at the Curragh recently and should be primed for a profitable summer campaign, starting here.