BALLYOISIN CAN MAKE KILING

TOP-WEIGHT Ballyoisin should make a bold bid to complete back-to-back wins in the Rentokil Initial Handicap Chase on the third day of Killarney’s July meeting.

The classy, seven-year-old Presenting gelding, right, has won five times and been runner-up twice in 11 starts over fences. And he boasts an unbeaten record around this a picturesque circuit, having won this race, off a 13lb lower mark, 12 months ago and having landed a conditions event over two and a half miles here in May.

Last time, Ballyoisin brushed aside the challenge of Woodland Opera at Punchestown in mid-june, over two miles and five furlongs. And he drops back significantly in trip this evening.

But the 157-rated chaser, which Enda Bolger trains for JP Mcmanus, jumps particularly well, relishes good ground and, despite the task of conceding chunks of weight to his rivals, will be tough to beat.

At the other end of the handicap, the versatile, Richard O’brientrained Azzuri and Noel Meade’s Bel Ami De Sivola are likely to pose the greatest threat to the selection.

And Azzuri, which has been performing consistently on the flat, might prove toughest to beat, in receipt of 26lb from Barry Geraghty’s mount – this fellow won three times over fences in Britain for the Skeltons, admittedly at Southwell (twice) and Ayr.

Danny Mullins will be on board Azzuri, which has rock-solid claims. But Ballyoisin’s class might prove crucial.

The Willie Mullins-trained Robin Des Foret is napped to beat six rivals in tonight’s finale, the Bunkers Bar & Restaurant Novice Chase.

And Cardini might open his account in the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction 2-Y-0 Race, in which he receives 4lb from a trio of previous winners.