Veteran can land another win

VASTONEA is a sporting nap choice to land the featured Win Big With Tote Handicap on tonight’s flat card in Ballinrobe.

The nine-year-old grey has been a tremendous servant for Kevin Prendergast. His six wins include a couple of victories in the ultra-competitive Topaz Mile (now run under the Colm Quinn BMW banner) at the Galway Festival in 2012 and 2014.

He won twice last term, including an end-of-season victory at Leopardstown, off a mark of 82.

Vastonea showed definite signs that he retains plenty of his ability when finishing fifth to Mainicin on his seasonal debut in Navan.

With that run under his belt, and with ground conditions in his favour (officially described as ‘yielding to soft’ yesterday), Vastonea, the mount of apprentice Dylan Hogan, should take plenty of beating.

Raised 3lb for an all-theway win at Roscommon last night, Slaney Street, representing Jim Bolger and Kevin Manning, might prove tough to peg back in the Tote Handicap.

Johnny Feane’s Six Silver Lane, winner of a similar contest at Dundalk two runs back, might defy an outside draw in the opener.

And the Willie Mullinstrained High Haven, beaten a nose by Miss Mardan over course and distance last time (form boosted by the subsequent success of the third Powersbomb), might make it third-time-lucky in the finale. Princely Conn, runner-up to Swamp Fox in this race last year before finishing a close third in the Galway Hurdle, looks a potential threat.

Yesterday, trainer-rider Denis Hogan continued his rich vein of form when completing a notable chase double with Jack The Wire and Eiri Na Casca in Tipperary.

Having his first run since February, Jack The Wire justified 9/4 favouritism in the Packie Downey Memorial Handicap Chase. And Eiri Na Casca (9/1) completed the double when getting the better of The Gatechecker in the €20,000 Tipperary Town Plate Handicap Chase.

Joseph O’brien, who is in arguably better form, completed an across the card double. Having only his third career start, 4/5 favourite Bhutan quickened up nicely on the run-in to land the opening maiden hurdle in Tipperary.

And Boragh Steps, third to Dawn Delivers in a hot Curragh maiden on her debut last week, struck for O’brien in Fairyhouse, making all to justify 4/5 favouritism in the twoyear-old median auction maiden.

Shortest-priced favourite of the day Cap D’aubois delivered for the Riccis, Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh in Tipperary’s Great National Ballykisteen Golf Hotel Hurdle, scoring at 4/7.

Walsh said: “He’s rated 140 and is a hard horse to place, but the conditions of this race suited him well. Three miles seemed to suit him.”