McGarvey can keep Le Richebourg on victory trail

WITH both Barry Geraghty and Mark Walsh sidelined, Jody McGarvey is enjoying an unexpected run of excellent mounts, and he can guide Le Richebourg to glory in Killarney’s opening novice hurdle this evening.

The four-year-old son of Network, a smart maiden in bumpers, bolted up over the course and distance on his hurdling debut and he looks to have two Willie Mullins runners to beat now. Timi Roli, unsurprisingly, has Ruby Walsh’s vote, especially as Royal Hawk seems to have his own ideas, though both are talented.

McManus has three runners in the Dawn Hi + Lo Milk Beginners Chase, with McGarvey aboard All The Answers, like Le Richebourg trained by Joseph O’Brien. He has not jumped a fence and Our Dougal, rated 128, may be the one for Henry de Bromhead.

The feature handicap hurdle went last year to Time For Mabel and there is no obvious reason why he cannot follow up. A pleasing recent spin on the Flat adds to his allure, as does the booking of Paul Townend by Edward O’Grady.

Leopardstown hosts a seven-race card, including the Group Three ICON Meld Stakes. This race is quite intriguing for the class, given that one of the runners, The Grey Gatsby, memorably won the Champion Stakes here as a three-year-old when Australia was considered unbeatable, lighting up the first Irish Champions Weekend.

Dermot Weld now has the grey and, with his comeback run reasonably encouraging and the stable seemingly emerging from a poor spell, he may be able to get the better of Deauville. He receives 3lb from that foe.

The Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Stanerra Stakes looks a nice opportunity for another Mastercraftsman-bred, Charles O’Brien’s Santa Monica. She runs in the Magnier silks. Having looked a bit of a madam earlier in her life, she has won few races but performed at a smart level, and looks as though she will get the distance under Declan McDonogh.

The sire War Front has had a great run of late and Battle Of Jericho, which has a low draw and ample experience for Aidan O’Brien, ought to take the opener, though Impactful is feared.

The Riptide Movement Handicap is one of those typically fascinating three-year-olds’ handicaps, in which it is a quest to find one capable of improvement out of maiden class. Harry Rogers’ On the iflist would not want this to be a tactical affair but otherwise is weighed to give it a good go under Wayne Lordan.