IT IS HALL IN A DAY’S WORK
Rivals could Bump into another Willie sure-thing in Toad
TOAD Hall will be expected to boost Closutton’s impressive, early-season strike rate in bumpers by taking the Racing Again June 20th Flat Race in Wexford today.
The once-raced Fame And Glory gelding is trained for Malcolm Denmark by Willie Mullins, who continues to produce a succession of winners in this sphere.
And he shaped with plenty of promise when sent off even-money favourite for his debut in Clonmel early last month.
He was no match for Gordon Elliott’s promising Shannon Royale, having held every chance turning for home, and Toad Hall ultimately dead-heated for second spot, beaten two and a half lengths.
The other ‘dead-heater’ Walk Away Harry went on to land a competitive bumper at the Punchestown festival for Charles Byrnes while Extrapolation, eight lengths back in fourth spot, has since scored in Downpatrick.
On that basis, the Clonmel form looks solid and, encountering much drier ground here, Toad Hall and Patrick Mullins should take plenty of beating, with the Emmet Mullins-trained Full Metal Jacket, third to Chasing Unicorn at Punchestown, the obvious threat.
Earlier, the Gordon Elliott-trained mare Jungle Prose might return to winning ways, under in-form claimer Danny Gilligan, in the three-mile Support The Irish Injured Jockeys Hurdle.
This eight-year-old, last seen when tenth behind Perceval Legallois in a Pertemps Qualifier at Leopardstown in February, proved a revelation last autumn, scoring on her second start for her new trainer (previously with Nick Gifford in England) at Thurles in October, off a lowly mark of 83.
Jungle Prose progressed from there, recording wins at Down Royal, Punchestown and Navan, completing her four-timer off 125 before finishing fourth to stable-companion Favori De Champdou in a Grade 2, novice at Limerick’s Christmas meeting.
Back after a break, the selection is rated 2lb. superior to chief danger Joyeux Machin, from whom she receives 2lb. and Danny Gilligan’s claim might prove crucial.
Although without a win since scoring on the flat at Ballinrobe in 2021, Cask Mate, trained by Noel Meade (left) might be capable of defying top-weight in the opener.
This fellow unseated his rider at the second last when chasing the leaders in the competitive handicap hurdle won by Mighty Tom in Killarney last time.
And if reproducing his best form, which includes a fourth to Echoes In Rain in the valuable amateur handicap at Galway last summer, he might be up to the task.
Three of the contenders for the Wexford Racecourse Maiden Hurdle are rated within 1lb. of each other.
Returning after a winter break, I like Liz Doyle’s High City Roller, a bumper winner at Limerick and placed in his three hurdle starts, including a narrow defeat by Bold Approach at this venue.