JIMMY MUSSELING IN
JIMMY MOFFATT is after more Musselburgh success with Idder in the feature race on the venue’s final jump card of the season today.
The top weight, victorious over course and distance in maiden company in early January, faces seven rivals in the Cappoquin Property Consultancy Ltd Novices’ Handicap Hurdle.
Moffatt, who is looking forward to running Highland Lodge in next month’s Grand National, said: “It’s his first handicap but we think he is still progressive and he know he likes the track and the ground. He was left in front that day three out when the leader made a bad mistake but (jockey) Brian Hughes felt we would have won anyway.”
Among the opposition to Idder are Donald McCain-trained Craig Star, another that will be suited by the better ground.
Lucy Alexander will also be looking for a good spin on Leading Score after her return to the saddle on Wednesday. Grand National-winning jockey Graham Lee, now plying his trade on the Flat, again appears on a jumps card. He rides in the last race on Crixus’s Escape for fledging trainer Gillian Boanas who operates from the yard vacated by recently-retired Keith Reveley.
■ Yorkhill is the headline act among 24 entries for the Ryanair Gold Cup at Fairyhouse.
The Willie Mullins-trained seven-year-old won the JLT Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham and would undoubtedly be a hot favourite if putting his unbeaten record over fences on the line on Easter Sunday.
Mullins unsurprisingly has a strong hand, with Bachasson, Bellshill, Great Field and Royal Caviar also among his seven contenders on April 16.
Sponsor Michael O’Leary’s sole success in the race arrived in 2007 via the Charlie Swan-trained One Cool Cookie but Gigginstown House Stud’s familiar maroon and white silks are sure to be well represented this year.
Noel Meade’s Road To Respect was one of the most impressive winners at Cheltenham in the Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate Handicap Chase.
Meade and Gigginstown also have the option of fielding Flogas Novice Chase winner Disko.
Other contenders include the Gordon Elliott-trained trio of A Toi Phil, Ball D’Arc and General Principle, Alan Fleming’s Festival hero Tully East and Jessica Harrington’s Our Duke.
The two British-trained entries are Gary Moore’s Casse Tete and Frodon from Paul Nicholls’ stable.