Bayan’s ready to last the trip to Tipp for Mullins
SPRIGHTLY veteran Thousand Stars and t he long-absent Diakali have been chosen by Willie Mullins to bid for a follow-up this afternoon to last year’s victory i n Tipperary’s Grade 3 Grimes Hurdle with the versatile Simenon.
Last seen at Auteuil in June 2014, when a fair fourth then to local ace Gemix in the French Champion Hurdle, Diakali represents Mullins and Simenon’s owners Wicklow Bloodstock now in preference to Wicklow Brave.
This ploy may represent something of a gamble as Wicklow Brave would have been hot f avourite f or the Tipperary feature, even if Ruby Walsh’s mount today was indeed a fair performer at his best.
Reverting to the minimum trip now could leave even a re-invigorated Diakali as well as Thousand Stars, gallant runner-up last month for that Gallic championship, vulnerable to a speedier sort.
Fitting the bill instead could be Galway-bound Bayan for the in-form Gordon Elliott yard, as Barry Geraghty’s mount has the benefit of a decent run three weeks ago and looks better suited to this two miles than stablemate Taglietelle.
The preceding Excelebration Stakes at Listed level for juveniles, by comparison, will be over in a flash and Willie McCreery’s easy Cork debut scorer Shrill for Godolphin is difficult to overlook on lively ground.
Tomorrow fans have a choice of venues between Sligo’s jumping session — during which the Mullins yard could rack up a short-priced treble with Bachasson, Long Dog and Fugi Mountain — and Dundalk’s Twelfth of July meeting on the level.
The welcome resumption of activity at the Louth venue for their traditionally most popular summer gathering i s being staged on the all-weather course that has been “flipped” to prov i de an e nhanced r aci ng surface.
This country’s only artificial circuit has proved a boon to many professionals, not least the alliance of Ger Lyons and his youthful number one rider Colin Keane which can strike once more with both Ardhoomey and Chenega Bay.
Keane, i ndeed, has bright prospects of a treble as Pat Martin’s Ishebayorgrey continues to thrive on a busy schedule and may well be up to defying yet another hike in the weights i n the opening l eg of the Jackpot.
Diakali and Thousand Stars may be vulnerable