The mares’ maiden hurdle at Tramore on Friday evening looks like a particularly weak contest and Cornamona Park hinted at enough ability last time to give her a big shout in the two-mile-five contest.
She had just been asked to close at Downpatrick last time, and was on the heels of the leaders, when unshipping her jockey two from home.
Obviously that’s still a fair way from home at that course but it was an encouraging run after she had finished mid-division on her first couple of outings.
This looks like a good bit of placing by trainer Gavin Cromwell in a contest that is restricted to horses that have run at least three times and haven’t been placed.
It’s not hard to imagine her having reached the frame last time if she had completed.
Willie Mullins runs one and Get In Line has to be respected despite having shown little to date.
The Getaway mare weakened tamely in the closing stages on her jumping debut at Sligo eight days ago. You’d assume she must be showing a bit more at home to justify having a box in Closutton.
Mullins runs an interesting newcomer in the bumper.
More Coko is a half-brother to a decent sort in A Penny A Hundred, who was Grade Three-placed for the yard last season. It would be no surprise if he made a winning debut in a moderate looking affair.
Galway Chase third Zanahiyr is the best horse on show on the card and Gordon Elliott has found a nice race for him in the opening conditions chase.
He ran a cracker on his first start in handicap company over fences at Ballybrit when beaten only a length by Pinkerton in the festival feature.
The handicapper stuck him up to a mark of 149 after that effort and he sets the standard now in the extended two-mile-five contest.
At the weights, the mare Sayvalee is probably the danger in receipt of 7lb.
She also ran a big race at Galway last time when losing out by half-a-length to Ashdale Bob in a Grade Three novice contest.
Elliott can also strike with Hey Whatever in the mares’ handicap hurdle.
The grey came good at Downpatrick last month when taking her maiden hurdle and has been left on the same mark of 102. She looks capable of striking again off that rating.
SELECTIONS
5.00 Zanahiyr (Dbl)
5.35 I Am Spirder Man
6.05 Pahlavi
6.38 Hey Whatever
7.13 Cornamona Park (Nap)
7.48 The Great Unknown
8.20 More Coko
