Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
RIGHTING A WRONG
Jesse to go one better this time
JESSE Evans, representing the combination of Noel Meade and Colin Keane, will be expected to open his flat account in today’s Flower Hill Maiden in Navan.
Beaten a half-length by Ilmig in this race last year, the five-year-old has proven himself over hurdles, winning a maiden and a Killarney handicap, back in May, off a mark of 131.
He was a creditable fourth to Saldier in the Guinness Galway Hurdle and boasts a current handicap mark of 140 in that discipline.
Only fourth to Monas
Melody in a flat event at
Killarney in July, Jesse Evans was a beaten favourite again last time, in a recent, two-mile flat maiden in
Thurles when, having held every chance, he failed by a half-length to cope with 81-rated three-year-old Rekero, to whom he was conceding 9lb.
Jesse Evans has earned a flat mark of 85 and has been found a golden opportunity to add to his bumper and two hurdle victories.
Michael O’callaghan (inset) might continue his successful campaign with his juvenile team when 78-rated Past Time lines-up for the opening maiden over just short of six furlongs.
This Postponed filly has been placed three times from five starts, including a solid second to subsequent listed placed filly Tranquil Lady in Galway.
And she can probably be forgiven a below par effort last time, when down the field behind Limiti Di Greccio in the listed Staffordstown Stud Stakes at the Curragh.
Dropping in class and trip, O’callaghan’s charge sets the standard, with Neo Soul and Secret Magician the obvious dangers.
The five-furlong Blackcastle Handicap looks a cracker, with Pretty Boy Floyd, up 6lb. for his recent Curragh win, sharing top-weight with my selection, the ultra-consistent Tide Of Time.
Eddie Lynam’s charge has performed particularly well at Bellewstown this year, finishing placed twice before scoring, off 82, at the same venue on his penultimate start.
And, last time, the four-time course and distance scorer was collared late and beaten three-quarters of a length by Sounds Of Spring over an extra 164 yards here.
Back to the minimum trip and with Dylan Browne Mcmonagle again on board, Tide Of Time should run another huge race.
Lynam also has prospects in the earlier (45-70) Arkle Bar Handicap with six-year-old Teddy Boy whose two career wins have come over this course ad distance in the last two runnings of this event.