LIMERICK PREVIEW:JUST FOUR line up for Limerick's rescheduled Christmas feature today, the Grade Two Greenmount Park Novice Chase, and that can spell good news for The Hurl.
The JP McManus-owned seven-year-old was a decent operator over hurdles last season, winning a Grade Three for trainer Mouse Morris, and made his mark over fences at Thurles last time when winning by 10 lengths.
His three opponents include the course and distance winner Mr Cracker as well as the Naas scorer Kakagh.
In contrast Willie Mullins has shelved his original plans to run the highly-promising Quel Esprit in this contest and instead he relies on C’est Ca who failed to justify his favouritism behind Loup Du Soubaous at Naas on his last start.
Testing conditions should be right up The Hurl’s street based on his hurdling form and he can secure a €40,000 local prize for his owner.
If runners are scarce on the ground in the feature, then it is even worse in the opening conditions hurdle where just three line up and two of them carry Michael O’Leary’s colours.
Sounds Of Jupiter represents local trainer Charles Byrnes but it is the Morris-trained Big Game Hunter, rated 6lb superior to O’Leary’s other runner, who strikes one as the most obvious winner.
Willie Mullins’s influence can play a major part on today’s Limerick action as well and it should be third time lucky for the champion trainer’s Beginners Chase hope, Uncle Junior.
Mullins’s nephew Emmett takes the ride on Uncle Junior who has finished runner-up at both Listowel and Thurles where only Western Charmer got the better of him.
Roi De Mee chased home The Hurl on his last start but could have to settle for minor placings yet again behind Uncle Junior.
Allee Garde found Sword Of Destiny too good when favourite at Gowran Park last time and should be hard to beat in the concluding bumper.
Eric McNamara is always a trainer to contend with at his local track and he runs Flemensford in the two-and-three-quarter mile handicap hurdle on the back of a victory over two and a half at this track in early November.
Flemensford had False Messenger behind him on that occasion and the Hourigan runner has won since to frank the form.
The pair clash again this afternoon and the placings can be confirmed.
Jacks Island scored for Wicklow trainer Philip Rothwell at Clonmel last month and a 7lb penalty for that shouldn’t stop him having a shout of a follow-up in the first of the handicap hurdles.
Henry De Bromhead experienced King George disappointment when Sizing Europe was denied a Christmas outing at Kempton but the Punchestown bumper winner Darwins Fox can change things around for the Waterford trainer in the maiden hurdle.
