Jack’s the main Man

MR JACKMAN looks the short-priced banker bet on tomorrow’s card in Wexford.

From the in-form yard of Gordon Elliott, above, this four-year-old Flemensfirth gelding was unbeaten in two bumper starts, justifying favouritism at both Tipperary and Gowran Park in July.

And he made a satisfactory, if not successful, start to his hurdling career at Punchestown last month when, always close to the pace, he edged ahead turning for home and looked likely to triumph at the final flight before being nailed late and beaten a head by Formal Order.

The winner franked the form when going on to land a listed novice event in Limerick. And, against this opposition, it will be surprising if Mr Jackman fails to earn compensation.

Another stand-out bet on the Wexford card is the Willie Mullins-trained Nudie in the mares bumper.

The five-year-old daughter of Ask shaped like a certain future winner on her debut at Listowel last month when, ridden by tomorrow’s partner Jody Townend, she stayed on nicely to fill the runner-up berth behind better-fancied and exciting stablecompanion Brooklynn Glory.

With that run under her belt, Nudie should be tough to beat here and is expected to prove too strong for locally-trained point winner Gale At Sea, a beaten favourite on her track debut in a maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse in January, and Padraig Roche’s Patty D.

Third to Doctor Duffy in the Mayo National and a creditable fifth to Cabaret Queen in the Kerry National last time, Seamus Neville’s Ask

Nile has solid each-way claims in the Slade Handicap Chase.