Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
GREY DAY IS FORECAST
It can be 3rd time lucky for Elliott star Eden
RUNNER-UP in his two chase starts, the Gordon Elliott-trained From Eden might get off the mark in the Handipak Play Live 25th July Beginners Chase in Limerick.
Formerly trained by Val O’brien, the grey won two handicap hurdles for his current handler last season, winning off 93 on his stable debut in Navan and off a British mark of 115 over in Ayr in April.
The seven-year-old embarked on his chasing career at Kilbeggan in md-may and acquitted himself well enough, chasing the leaders when slightly hampered going to the last before being left second and staying on to finish second to subsequent handicap hurdle winner Put The Kettle On.
From Eden followed-up that chase debut with another solid effort, in Clonmel, chasing home the Willie Mullins-trained Cool Colonnade.
The selection’s hurdle wins for Elliott were achieved over two and a half and three miles. But his most recent effort, in Clonmel, was over the minimum trip, which makes his effort more commendable.
He’ll certainly be helped by the extra two furlongs today and gets the vote to make it ‘third-time-lucky’ over the bigger obstacles, with Successor and Visioman likely to prove the main threats.
The featured Galway Races Galway Plate Trial looks wide open. But the key might prove to be a similar ‘trial’ at Kilbeggan last month when subsequent disappointment Conrad Hasting landed the spoils.
The Michael Hourigan-trained Hash Brown filled the runner-up berth on that occasion, with a number of today’s rivals behind and, if in the same sort of form, he might reward each-way support.
He holds Mrs Lovett (third), Art Of Security (fifth), Supreme Vinnie (eighth) and Draycott Place (ninth) on that Kilbeggan form and should confirm the form here.
Conqueror of subsequent winner and ‘trial’ contender Ravenhill at Kilbeggan before finishing down the field behind Thomas Hobson in a Grade 3 when reverting to hurdling last time, Joseph O’brien’s Plinth might have the edge over Or Jaune De Somoza in the Twilight Evenings At Limerick Novice Chase.