Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
BULLISH
Mullins confident Brahma can concede weight
BRAHMA BULL will be expected to make a successful hurdling debut, at a very short price, in the Thurles.ie Maiden Hurdle in Thurles.
The Willie Mullins-trained six-year-old won three bumpers this summer, looks a staying type and should be capable of successfully conceding weight to his six rivals.
The Presenting gelding scored on his belated debut at Ballinrobe in July, followed-up at Listowel in September and, little more than two weeks later, completed his bumper hat-trick in Tipperary, when strongly ridden to beat Peacocks Secret.
That bare summer form is nothing special, in the context of a winter novice hurdling campaign. But Brahma Bull is expected to improve significantly now he tackles hurdles and a test of stamina (almost three miles). And he should deliver.
Another likely winner for the Mullins team is dual bumper-winner True Self, which will be ridden by Brian Hayes, right, in the Templemore Mares Maiden Hurdle.
Unlucky at Warwick in her only outing for her breeder and then trainer Don Cantillon, this four-year-old has justified odds-on favouritism in her two bumper starts for Closutton, at Galway and Down Royal.
On both occasions, she travelled well and picked-up in good style to seal victory. And she looks likely to make her mark over obstacles, starting here.
In search of a bit of value, Hard
Bought is napped to follow up a recent success in
Galway by taking the Littleton Handicap Chase.
Not straight-forward, this 10-year-old, fourth to Frey Mountain Mist here two runs back, was in front sooner than ideal in Galway, but faced the hill well enough to hold First To Boogie by a length.
He’s not too harshly penalised with 4lb extra to carry here and gets a hopeful vote.
And, Gordon Elliott’s The Big Lense, winner of his only point-to-point, when owned by Simon Mcgonagle, before being bought by J P Mcmanus, will be fancied to make a successful racecourse debut in the bumper. Derek O’connor’s mount probably has most to fear from the Noel Meade-trained Daly Tiger.