GET ON HIM

Morris’ charge can reward punters with an early victory

THE Mouse Morris-trained Get My Drift should prove tough to beat, on his second start over fences, in the opening William Hill Ireland Rated Novice Chase in Punchestown.

A six-year-old Spanish Moon gelding, he performed at a respectable level over hurdles, his sole victory a maiden hurdle at the Leopardstown Christmas 2020 meeting and running creditably in defeat against the likes of El Barra – a Grade 3 winner over fences.

He finished last season by finishing in mid-division in the Punchestown Festival handicap won by

Camprond, but has always looked the type to develop into a better chaser.

He shaped with plenty of promise on his eagerly-awaited fencing bow at Navan little more than two weeks ago, jumping soundly before staying on to finish nine lengths third behind the exciting Hollow Games.

That experience will stand to Get My Drift today and might give him the edge over Gallyhill and the intriguing chasing debutant Gracchus De Balme, like the selection owned by J P Mcmanus and from the in-form yard of Joseph O’brien and a very promising chasing recruit.

Maiden hurdles are always particularly interesting at this time of year, with the market often giving an indication of expectations about horses from top yards.

Willie Mullins launches his dual bumper-winner Hunter’s Yarn – successful at Limerick and Fairyhouse – on his hurdling bow in a division of the William Hill Play Responsibly Maiden Hurdle with obvious prospects.

But I’ll oppose him with the Jimmy Mangan-trained four-year-old Spillane’s Tower, who has shown plenty of promise in two hurdle starts, initially when fifth to subsequent Lartigue winner Prairie Dancer at Cork last Easter.

He produced an excellent effort on his second hurdle start at Wexford four weeks ago, when getting within a head of Gordon Elliott’s Imagine, who went on finish a good second in a Grade 3 at Navan and, on Saturday, was only collared late by the potentially smart Inothewayurthinkin in Gowran Park.

Meeting Hunter’s Yarn at levels will make it tough for the Mcmanusowned Walk In The Park gelding. But he might be up to the task.

In the second division of this event, Elliott’s Timmy Tuesday might have the edge over the Mullins-trained hurdling debutant Intranet.

Unlucky when running out in his only point, Timmy Tuesday looked a smart prospect on his racecourse debut in Cork – finishing over six lengths third to Inothewayurthinkin and, with normal improvement, sets a decent standard.

HARD TO OPPOSE IN OPENER Mouse Morris-trained Get My Drift