TOP MIN
Classy chaser to claim Durkan It’ll be a Great day on Leeside
IRISH RACING
Only five runners go to post and Presenting Percy was a notable omission from the field when the declarations were released on Friday.
However, there is a fine clash in store between Min and a pair of Cheltenham Festival winners in Shattered Love and Balko des Flos.
At his best Min can mix it with the very best around and he did give Altior a big fright in last season’s Queen Mother at Cheltenham.
His previous efforts over two and a half miles suggest that the trip will be fine for him and he can see off Shattered Love.
Another top notch Gordon Elliotttrained mare, this daughter of Yeats defeated the geldings in two Grade 1 contests last season.
She returned to action with a good second to Snow Falcon at Down Royal last month and much better is expected from her now that she has the benefit of a run behind her.
Shattered Love looks a bigger threat than Balko des Flos who hasn’t run anywhere near his best in two outings GREAT Field is the star attraction at Cork today as he bids to stay unbeaten over fences in the Grade 2 Kerry Group Hilly Way Chase.
The thrilling front runner (right) emerged as a top class novice chaser a couple of seasons ago when he won all four of his starts over the larger obstacles.
This is one of the more competitive line ups that since winning the Ryanair Chase last March.
Mullins has several other strong chances on this card and his Tornado Flyer is impossible to oppose in the maiden hurdle.
This five-year-old was one of the outstanding bumper horses of last season when he won two of his three starts and signed off with a Grade 1 triumph at Punchestown.
It will be a surprise if he doesn’t take a high rank amongst the country’s top novice hurdlers this season.
Another likely Mullins-trained winner is Getabird who makes his debut over fences in the beginner’s chase.
If he runs to anything close to his best he will surely get his chasing career off to a perfect start.
In the opening novice hurdle Ballyneety appeals as a likely winner following his recent maiden hurdle triumph at Gowran, while Elliott should be on the mark again with Santana Plessis in the bumper.
Curious Times has shown plenty of promise in several of his runs over hurdles and he might be the answer to the handicap hurdle.
Nicole’s Milan is a horse that likes a good test of stamina and he appeals in the three miles handicap chase. Great Field has faced but this Willie Mullins inmate should prevail at the outset of a season that could lead to a tilt at the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham.
In the Grade 3 novice hurdle punters should look no further than Robin de Carlow who dominated a Listed event over this course and distance a month ago. Another likely winner for Mullins is Maze Runner who signed off on a high on the flat when winning a Galway handicap in October. Getaway John was a costly failure here last month but will be all the better for that run and could well make amends in the second of the maiden hurdles.