6:00 – Handicap Hurdle (Grade B)
Sassy Yet Classy 8/1 – Gordon Elliott, Mr R James (7)
Course and distance winner having won the Pertemps qualifier here in November, beating some useful types.
She then went on to perform well in a Grade B at Navan in December, and subsequently received a rise of 11lbs in ratings.
At the Pertemps at Cheltenham she was brought down at the fourth fence having been backed into 9/1.
She runs off a 6lbs lower mark here, with jockey Rob James claiming a useful 7lbs in this competitive contest.
The eight-year-old is a very consistent mare who has rarely finished outside of the first four in recent seasons, and if she is able to get a bit more luck in running she should be there or thereabouts at the finish.
6:35 – Barberstown Castle Novice Chase
Gentleman De Mee 10/11 – Willie Mullins, Mark Walsh
Gentleman De Mee comes into the race bidding for a four-timer having had the beating of Arkle-winner Edwardstone in the Maghull Novices’ Chase, with Third Time Lucki finishing a distant third.
He has been raised 6lbs for his Grade One Aintree win and is the highest-rated in the race, running off a mark of 164.
He will face stiff opposition in the form of Gabynako, who chased home Edwardstone at Cheltenham.
But the Gavin Cromwell trained gelding was no match for the winner there, and unless the favourite underperforms, it’s unlikely he’ll be able to challenge him.
Gentleman De Mee has run once at the track, finishing seventh over hurdles at the festival last year, but he has taken well to fences and should be tough to beat on this occasion.
Haut En Couleurs did beat him earlier in the season, when receiving 6lbs, but was unable to build on that win, falling in the Irish Arkle before finishing sixth in the Arkle at Cheltenham, eleven-and-a-half lengths behind second-placed Gabynako, and a further four-and-a-quarter lengths behind the winner.
If this race hasn’t come too soon after Aintree exploits, Gentleman De Mee should be able to put in another convincing performance to end his season on a high.
7:10 – Mares’ Handicap Chase
Hurricane Georgie 5/1 – Gordon Elliott, Mr R James (7)
Hurricane Georgie was put in the tracker following her good run at odds of 25/1 behind evens favourite Dolcita at Fairyhouse earlier this month.
She failed by only a head, rallying towards the line finishing best of all in an eyecatching performance.
Since winning on debut over fences this season she has finished second on three occasions.
She’s been given a 7lbs hike in the ratings for her last run, but jockey Rob James claims 7lbs aboard the mare.
Western Zara could be a danger, as she is a consistent performer who won impressively on her only run over fences.
She is inexperienced over the larger obstacles however, and did jump slightly to her left at Clonmel, so the track here may not be ideally suited but she is still open to progression.
Hurricane Georgie is the selection to build on her previous run and finish first past the post here.
7:45 – Flat Race
James’s Gate 4/5 – Willie Mullins, Mr P W Mullins
The five-year-old gelding is a course and distance winner, having won here on debut in impressive fashion.
The horses in behind are yet to boost the form of James’s Gate, as the runner-up and third-placed horses are yet to reappear on a racecourse.
He was sent off at odds of 16/1 for the Champion Bumper, and managed to finish third in what could turn out to be a high-class renewal of the race, with plenty of horses destined to go on to shine over obstacles in the future.
The ground was bottomless on that occasion, but James’s Gate kept on well to place.
Both of his runs to date have come on heavy ground, so it’ll be interesting to see how he performs on a better surface.
He may show plenty of improvement and be able to demonstrate his speed over this extended two-mile trip.
Patrick Mullins rides for the champion trainer, and it may be another case of “Willie’s in the bumper!”.
By Katie Midwinter (27/04/22)
THE CONDITIONAL 