Bookmakers reported a sizeable interest in the Eddie O'Grady-trained Fairies Cross last time out at Gowran Park when he ended up a clear-cut 5 to 2 favourite, but finished just outside the first six behind Speed Board. As an amateur handicap hurdle there was a higher range of weights on that occasion and he was set to carry 12 st 4 lbs, 13 lbs more than this evening.
On that account Norman Williamson's mount should be worth another chance when he contests a similar long distance handicap hurdle at the opening session at Bellewstown.
If anywhere near his best, the Charlie Swan-trained Cloone Bridge would look jackpot banker material in the P Fallon Civil Engineering Hurdle, a conditions race over two and a half miles.
He performed exclusively over fences last season, taking on stars of the calibre of the ill-fated Nick Dundee but, as a novice hurdler in the spring of 1998, he was placed at both Cheltenham and Aintree.
His third to French Holly in the Royal and SunAlliance Novice Hurdle puts him in a different league from rivals such as Twin Hale and Kid Vic.
Kevin O'Brien rode his share of two-year-old winners in his early days and now as a trainer he can saddle his first winner of this age group. Newpark Lady shared third favouritism at Leopardstown with Reve De Nuit and ran even better than the market projected to finish second to Mull Of Kintyre.
As she disputed the lead for four furlongs, the sharp Bellewstown five and the drop in opposition - there is after all no Aidan O'Brien runner - should combine to translate her into winner material. Likewise the line of form through Reve De Nuit gives her the beating of Paws in the Silsharvan EBF Maiden.
Kevin Prendergast has an excellent course record and his runners at the Curragh showed that his stable was in sharp form. Dane's Lady, who was fourth last year at the Curragh to Black Rock Desert (a sprint Group race winner in France this year), could get the better of what should be a tough tussle with Black Paddy in the Maurice Macauley Memorial Maiden.
It would be difficult to measure the precise gap between the standard of the competitors in the Oldbridge Concrete Handicap and the Irish Derby. Thus, while Maradan was outgunned by Genghiz Khan and the winner in turn beat just one horse home behind Montjeu, Maradan may prove good enough to win his first handicap.
Champion jockey Kieren Fallon was not seriously injured when unshipped from Red Raja in the Lions Lodge Handicap at Chepstow Fallon lay on the track for about five minutes and came back in a course ambulance.
