ELL IS DE MAN FOR NATIONAL
Kerviniou to give Gordon perfect Cheltenham send-off
IRISH RACING
On a decent card this €100,000 three mile contest takes centre stage and Elliott fields four runners.
The pick of the quartet looks to be Cheb De Kerviniou who comes here off a good third in the Grand National Trial at Punchestown last month.
That was the ten-year-old’s best effort since coming to Ireland and it suggested that he could land a good handicap before the end of the season.
Cheb De Kerviniou might just prefer an even stiffer test of stamina and he isn’t that easy to win with.
However, he is a reliable type who has plenty going for him and he also has a light weight and Rachael Blackmore to aid his cause.
He is preferred to Castle Oliver who comes here chasing a four-timer having won a €50,000 novice handicap chase at this track two weeks.
This is Castle Oliver’s stiffest test to date but the manner in which he won at this track last month was quite taking.
He has shot up 30 pounds in the weights for his last three wins but there is a chance that he could step forward again now that he tackles this trip.
Gordon Elliott looks to have good prospects of a double with The Very Man making plenty of appeal in the maiden hurdle.
This gelding has been a shade disappointing on his last few runs but he looks more than good enough to win a maiden of this standard.
The way he finished out his race at Navan last month suggested that he would appreciate moving up to today’s two mile three furlongs trip.
Elsewhere on the card Oliver Mckiernan’s Gallant John Joe makes plenty of appeal in the Grade 3 Naas Director’s Plate Novice Chase.
He ran a very creditable race last time to be beaten just over seven lengths into third by Cash Back and Notebook in the Arkle at Leopardstown.
Prior to that he only just failed to see off Melon in a beginner’s chase at Leopardstown and those two runs represent strong pieces of form.
Mckiernan, who has been enjoying a fine season, might also land the handicap hurdle with Mister Eddman.
He finished down the field in a two mile handicap hurdle here in January but the trip that day was probably on the short side for him.
In the Irish Racing Writers Novice Hurdle Beacon Edge is hard to look past following his narrow defeat in a Grade 2 event at this track a fortnight ago.
A repeat of that last run can see him deal with the impressive Leopardstown maiden winner Cedarwood Road.