GIVE THANKS TO JESS FOR ILMIG

THE Jessica Harringtontrained Ilmig sets the standard in the Thanks To All Our Sponsors 3- Y- 0 Maiden Hurdle which opens today’s eight- race card in Fairyhouse.

A lightly- raced son of Galileo, the selection made his belated debut in a flat maiden at Thurles in October and performed creditably to chase home a talented older rival, Arcadian Sunrise.

Two weeks later, he opened his account in a Navan maiden over a mile and six furlongs, beating Noel Meade’s Jessie

Evans – a bumper and hurdle winner – and his stable- companion Autumn Evening, successful on his recent hurdling bow in

Gowran Park.

Ilmig started over hurdles at Punchestown last month and produced a solid performance chasing home Druid’s Altar.

He looks likely to make his mark in this new discipline and is napped to open his account here, at the expense of Gordon Elliott’s ( above) Damage Control – bought out of Andrew Balding’s and owned by Noel and Valerie Moran, who stumped up € 530,000 for in- foal,

11- time Grade 1 winner Apple’s Jade on

Thursday.

The Elliott- trained Torygraph appeals in the Visit irish racing year book. com Maiden Hurdle, in which he’s preferred to 120- rated Takarengo.

Third to On Eagles Wings in a Cork bumper, Torygraph made a pleasing hurdling bow at Clonmel last month, staying on stoutly to finish second – beaten a length and half – behind Power Of Pause.

The winner franked the form when beating wellregarded Crosshill in a rated novice hurdle at Punchestown at the weekend. And a significant step- up in trip should suit Torygraph today.

Although winless in five starts over fences, the Charles Byrnes- trained

Off You Go has rock- solid claims in the featured Boylesports This Is

Betting Handicap Chase.

On his recent handicap