’KAZ BLAST
Paname bidding to power to a Tipp victory
MARKAZ PANAME could be the answer to the Group 3 Coolmore US Navy Flag Concorde Stakes which heads a quality dual purpose card at Tipperary this afternoon.
The Ger Lyons-trained threeyear-old had to settle for sixth in a high class handicap at Leopardstown on his most recent start.
That was his first run since April though so he can be expected to improve off that and the switch to slower ground will work in his favour.
Also it is worth recalling how well this gelding progressed on soft ground earlier in the season.
He won a competitive Madrid Handicap with something to spare on his comeback and even better was to come at the Curragh.
Then he defeated a reasonable field to win the Group 3 Gladness Stakes and if he returns to that form he should take beating.
There is plenty of graded action over jumps and the Horse & Jockey Hotel Hurdle plays host to an interesting clash.
The former multiple Grade 1 scorer Abacadabras returns to the track for the first time since December. He won’t find this easy under a Grade 1 penalty and he is a horse who tends to progress well from his first run of the season.
His key rival Jason The Militant (right) has fitness on his side having contested the Group 1 Irish St Leger on the flat at the Curragh last month.
As a jumper Jason The Militant has Grade 2 and Grade 3 wins to his name and he has also been placed at the top level.
The advantage of his recent run coupled with a useful weight concession from Abacadabras makes him the choice.
In the Grade 3 novice chase the improving Authorized Art is sure to be popular as he looks to build on a dominant win at Killarney last time.
However, the vote goes to Gordon Elliott’s Ash Tree Meadow who has progressed very well since being sent chasing in the summer.
For a horse with such little experience he ran a tremendous race in the Galway Plate last time to finish fourth to Hewick. That looks the best piece of form in the line and it would suggest that Ash Tree Meadow is up to making his mark in a race such as this.
In the Grade 3 novice hurdle a chance is taken on Champ Kiely who was impressive in a Galway Festival maiden hurdle on his return from over a year off.
He does have to cope with a significant drop back in trip but looks a horse with graded potential and he should be at home over this trip.