BRAVO FOR ALPHA DES

ALPHA DES OBEAUX can get his chasing career back on track by landing today’s J.T. McNamara Ladbrokes Munster National at Limerick.

This gelding was one of the best staying hurdlers around a couple of seasons ago when his form included a second to Thistlecrack at Cheltenham.

He was then expected to take a high rank over fences, but he didn’t quite progress in the manner expected last season. He did reach the frame at Grade 1 level and he wasn’t disgraced in the RSA Chase, but there is no doubt he can do better still.

His yard now looks to be in much better form and he has the class to defy the burden of top weight.

A likely danger is the lightly weighted Total Recall, who makes his debut for Willie Mullins.

The former Sandra Hughes inmate hasn’t run since February and will need to improve on what he has shown over fences so far. However, it is worth remembering he was running very well in last January’s Leopardstown Chase only to be hampered at a vital stage.

Earlier on the card, the Mullins-trained Fabulous Saga is the choice in quite an interesting novice hurdle.

It could be a good day for Dermot McLoughlin as his Dixie Lee and Turbojet make plenty of appeal in their respective handicap hurdle assignments.