Irish Independent

RACE-BY-RACE GUIDETODAY­1

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1.30

UNBEATEN Getabird will be very popular in the betting for Willie Mullins and is hugely respected. But he’ll be quite short, and preference is for KALASHNIKO­V around 4/1. Amy Murphy’s charge was beaten in the Tolworth, but bounced back at Newbury last month and should have more to come under Jack Quinlan.

2.10

JUST five horses go to post for this year’s Arkle and it’s surprising to see that FOOTPAD is still odds-against. He beat nearest rival in the betting Petit Mouchoir at Leopardsto­wn last time, and there’s no reason to believe that form will be reversed.

2.50

NIGEL TWISTON-DAVIES’ COGRY has excuses for his loss to Casse Tete last time as the distance was too short, and he also lost a shoe. His jumping can be suspect, but he’s won a couple of times at Cheltenham and was second in the Scottish Grand National, so is capable of a big run. At 20/1, he can be taken each-way.

3.30

IT would be great to see Faugheen bounce back but there was definitely something amiss on his latest two races and he doesn’t look the force of old. That leaves the race at the mercy of BUVEUR D’AIR, Nicky Henderson’s superstar which has been winning Grade One races with ease.

4.10

SINCE winning this race last year, APPLE’S JADE has taken a Grade Two and three Grade Ones. The class act here, she’ll like the ground. Back racing against her own sex, she’s impossible to oppose but has a short price to match.

4.50

PATRICK MULLINS was unseated from RATHVINDEN last time, and that came after another Leopardsto­wn race in which Rathvinden failed to complete when brought down early on. That’s a bit of a worry, but he normally travels quite strongly and he’s now won four chases from ten. If he jumps well, he’ll go close around 7/1.

5.30

NIGEL TWISTON-DAVIES’ BALLYHILL won a handicap here on New Year’s Day off 133 to earn his first win over fences, and he might be in with an each-way squeak around 20/1. His jumping let him down in a similar race here at the end of January, but his trainer has named him as one that can go well again today, rated 138.

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