ZAR BETTER THAN RIVALS
Brave has class to bounce back in Limestone
TRUST Zarak The Brave to bounce back from a dismal effort in a Grade 3 at Tipperary in October to land tomorrow’s Grade 3 Naas Business Club Limestone Lad Hurdle in Naas.
The 152-rated five-year-old performed creditably in hot juvenile company last season, won the Guinness Galway Hurdle off a mark of 145 and has been found an ideal opportunity to get his career back on track ahead of his spring campaign.
Successful on his Irish debut at Fairyhouse, Zarak then chased home classy stable-companion Lossiemouth twice, including in the Grade 1 juvenile at the Punchestown festival.
And he ended his campaign with a third behind another classy stable-companion Gala Marceau in the Prix Alan de Breiul (Grade 1) in Auteuil.
Willie Mullins targeted the Galway Hurdle as a good summer opportunity of bagging a big prize. And he duly delivered, outpointing Jesse Evans to become a rare four-year-old winner of the Ballybrit showpiece.
Zarak The Brave was then sent off at 1/8 to see off just two rivals in the Grade 3 Horse & Jockey Hotel Hurdle at Tipperary in October but, never travelling, was pulled up by Paul Townend after a mistake at the fifth.
That was too bad to be true. And, returning after a break, the Zarak gelding will be expected to prove too classy for his four rivals, with Gordon Elliott’s Golden Joy expected to follow him home.
Willie Mullins and Paul Townend might also take the other Grade 3 on the card, the three mile Finlay Ford
At Naas Novice
Chase, with Embassy
Gardens (right), who impressed when making a successful start to his chasing career at Punchestown last month.
An under-achiever over hurdles, Embassy Gardens looks an exciting novice, jumps with enthusiasm and stays well.
He should have rock-solid claims in this six-runner affair, despite the presence in the field of some formidable opponents.
Both Desertmore House (Kerry National) and Meetingofthewaters (up 15lb. for his win in Leopardstown’s Paddy Power) boast winning form in ultracompetitive handicaps and merit plenty of respect, with the latter sporting a hood for the first time.
And Letsbeclearaboutit, a Grade 3 winner and third in the ‘Drinmore’, was third when favourite on his handicap bow in the Dan & Joan Moore Memorial at Fairyhouse last time.
In a fascinating contest, I’m swayed with potential of Embassy Gardens.
Third to Miss Manzor at Fairyhouse last time, the Gordon Elliott-trained Ndaawi sets the form standard in the Download The Betvictor App 4-Y-0 Maiden Hurdle.
But I’ll oppose him with Joe Murphy’s grey Mr Lincoln, a smart sort on the flat, who bumped into the exciting Bunting on his hurdling bow at Limerick over Christmas.