Still hungover from celebrating, if not your own, someone else’s sense of Irishness? We understand how you feel.
But with that hangover comes opportunity – kick this bank holiday Monday off with a tasty treble to keep you ticking over until you’re back to yourself again.
Cliff House and Brian O’Connell beating Maguire’s Glen (David Mullins) to win “The Book On-Line Handicap Hurdle” at Limerick – Alain Barr – 29.03.2015
14:55 – Navan
The trio of contenders here are fascinating because they each won well last time out. Serious Ego represents the powerful Gordon Elliott stable, and his victory over this trip at Leopardstown when slamming a 15-runner field at 8/1 may be the most impressive of the lot.
But he’s paying the price for it – a 13lb hike. The 50,000 euro purchase should be able to see off the mark, but it’s a huge bump in the weights and there’s little to suggest he’s improved a lot; more, it suggests he took advantage of a soft rating. He’s passed over for that reason.
Mags Mullins’ filly Martello Park is a more progressive sort, and the improvement has been steady rather than unexpected. Her profile shows she tries and has only ever been outside the top third of the field in a single race in her 10-race career to date.
But the selection is Cliff House. He responded well to pressure last time out to see off a competitive nine-runner field – setting the pace, which should suit him in this handicap field, too. A 7lb rise seems more than manageable.
SOUTHWELL, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 24: Runners return after finishing at Southwell racecourse on October 24, 2013 in Southwell, England. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)
16:05 Southwell
Jason Dixon is as good value as a 7lb proposition as you’re likely to find – maybe since James Bowen.
He takes charge of Henry Oliver’s The Dawn Man in what looks a good opening for him to get off the mark at hurdles. He’s now down a mark of 91, and with Dixon taking off a further seven, he’s carrying just 10-11, with the top weight carrying 12-1.
Earlier in his career, he was running close off 110 – and if he has anything about him at all, this is the chance he will take to break his poor run over hurdles.
The dangers could lie with Blue Rhythm if he takes to this headgear, as well as Iniesta and Timcoda – top weight – who could potentially be well-in off 102.
Thurles Sat 24 March 2018 Picture: Caroline Norris
Angus Milan ridden by Adam Short
17:00 – Navan
This particular handicap is fascinating, as it revolves around a shrewd bit of placing for a horse to take advantage of a low Irish mark, having been in top form across the Irish sea of late.
Trained by Noel Kelly, Angus Milan’s last run in Ireland saw him pull up off 114, and therefore dropped to a mark of 113.
Since then, he’s been placed in two races at Ayr – with the last of his runs being a four-length defeat to Fiddlers Bow over 21 furlongs.
He’s coming back in trip but will likely get the running of the race to himself.
Elsewhere, a 7lb rise for All The Chimneys seems appropriate, but he was handed the race when Paul Townend unseated aboard D’bru Na Boinne for Ross O’Sullivan.
He finished ahead of Seskin Flyer who re-opposes today.
Combine this trio for a whopping 408/1 treble at PaddyPower.com
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*All odds correct at time of posting
Monday, Monday, gettin’ down on Monday with PAddyPower.com