RACING: The unfashionable Balapour will try to spike some of racing's biggest guns and secure an emotional success in today's Guinness Galway Hurdle.
Despite a succession of excellent runs, the Oliver Brady-trained horse continues to be under-estimated in the big time. But he keeps delivering the goods.
No more so than in the Ulster Harp Derby in June when Balapour ploughed through deep ground to win and ignite some vintage celebrations from his trainer.
Brady's victory cries of "Up Monaghan" and "I'm the Greatest" are part of racing's fabric but his excellent recent strike-rate still hasn't convinced some of the talent behind the noise.
The company director from Monaghan is currently fighting a battle against cancer and a Balapour victory today would be an enormous tonic to Brady.
At double figure odds, the horse cuts an attractive each-way figure considering he acts on any going and has high-class form in the previous season's top four-year-old events.
A fourth in the Triumph Hurdle was followed by a third placing to Quazar at Punchestown where a slow jump at the last robbed his chance.
Perugino Diamond two years ago proved that four year olds can win this and with 10-9 on his back, plus a useful 3lb claim, Balapour looks to have a competitive weight.
JP McManus is heavily represented with the market leaders Moratorium, Timber King and Anxious Moments while the Weld camp has Tuesday's winner Mutakarrim.
Ansar did the double for Weld last year but that horse was ideally suited by ground conditions. Mutakarrim is not.
Sum Leader has been an ante-post gamble from 20 to 1 and Ruby Walsh's mount Patsy Veale comes here on a roll. But Balapour can set the winners enclosure heaving.
Ansar has his first start over fences in the opener and despite the lack of experience compared to Albatros, there is no ignoring his high-class hurdle form.
Normally the combination of the tortuous final hill, a 10-1 topweight and testing conditions would automatically put a big question mark next to a horse.
However, anyone who saw Cool Cousin stroll home by seven lengths at the Curragh last Saturday over six furlongs will not be put off.
The Halford runner is twice a winner over seven furlongs and on a roll at the moment. The surprise Killarney maiden winner Muskerry Princess could be the danger.
Magic Combination, a winner on the flat here on this day three years ago, tops the weights in the three mile handicap hurdle for the Scottish handler Len Lungo.
His presence alone helps the chance of the easy Killarney winner Lantern Leader who has Paul Carberry on again and a stable in rare form behind him.
Mark The Beginning ran a good fourth to Langkawi Island on terrible going on Monday night and can go close again now he is pulled out for the mile handicap.
Arthur Moore hit the board for the meeting yesterday and his Mount Kimble significantly reverts to the flat for the bumper.
