Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
CON TO VIN IT
JESS CHARGE CAN RACK UP SECOND VICTORY
THE progressive Conron should prove tough to beat in today’s Kilkenny City & Country Vintners Hurdle in Gowran Park.
The picturesque County Kilkenny venue stages an eight-race jumps card today, followed by a seven-race flat programme tomorrow. A lowly-rated flat performer, based on uninspiring form for Michael Halford, Conron was a shock winner on his hurdling debut at Punchestown last month, staying on stoutly from the last to get the better of Daybreak Boy and Santiago De Cuba.
That was also his first start since joining Jessica Harrington, right, whose attempt to take advantage of the gelding’s flat mark was denied when he was balloted out of a Leopardstown handicap.
Instead, Conron headed for a conditions hurdle in Ballinrobe and, in front jumping the last, had to settle for third spot behind Lucky icon and Waterville Dancer.
Today, the Mastercraftsman gelding, racing over two miles again, will appreciate this tougher track as he bids for a second hurdle success, with Paddy Kennedy in the saddle.
The main dangers should be 118-rated Room To Roam, having his first run since finishing third to Mastermind at Naas in February, Gordon Elliott’s Kuraka (rated 119), successful over obstacles at Limerick in April and campaigning on the flat in recent weeks, including a win off
70 at Leopardstown, and John
O’shea’s Clonmel winner Amschel.
The featured
Ashgrove Stables Jack Duggan Memorial Handicap Hurdle looks a wide-open affair. And I’ll side with Peter Fahey’s veteran Toushan as a solid each-way investment. Kevin Sexton’s mount has been running consistently, most recently when third to smooth winner Timi Roli in a conditions event in Wexford, having earlier finished second to Castafiore Park in a three-mile handicap on the same track. Sixth to Benkei in Killarney, the Willie Mullinstrained Hey Little Boy is among the threats to Toushan, along with Joseph O’brien’s Housesofparliament, although firmly put in his place by the impressive Good Thyne Tara in Ballinrobe last time.