Hijo De La Luna may be worth another shot in the finale at Dundalk on Friday night.
The Ger Lyons-trained gelding was a touch disappointing on his handicap debut at the venue nine days ago but the trip looked too short then.
He only really got going in the closing stages that day, when seventh to Sea Chariot, and was beaten just over two lengths at the line.
Going back up to 10 furlongs now should be a big help to the son of Sea The Moon, who showed promise at this trip on his first couple of outings.
He just appeared to be a bit outpaced early in the straight here last time and it’s no surprise to see him going over this extended 10 furlongs.
The handicapper dropped him a couple of pounds for his run last time and he should be capable of winning a race off a mark of 67.
Read More
[ The Inside Line: Joe Tizzard carrying a Triple threat with Trade at CheltenhamOpens in new window ]
Stablemate Caulaincourt didn’t run too badly in claiming company, in among some experienced older horses, last time and could be a danger now.
It doesn’t look like a particularly strong contest and Hijo De La Luna has shown enough to give him the winning of a race of this standard.
The opening winners’ contest for juveniles looks like a nice opportunity for Emerald Banner to open her account.
Jessica Harrington’s charge has been bumping into some smart sorts, having finished runner-up on her last three outings.
She chased home Alabama here on her last visit and has been given an official mark of 87 since.
If she runs up to anywhere near that she’d be very hard to beat. Clonmacash went up to a mark of 79 after winning a nursery here nine days ago and has to give her a nice chunk of weight.
Joseph O’Brien is always well represented at the all-weather venue and Wishes And Dreams may be his best chance of picking up a winner.
The Highland Reel filly was a big eye-catcher on her handicap debut here nine days ago when running on late to grab second behind Snag It.
She went up just a pound for that effort and going a bit further now looks like it can only bring further improvement from the lightly raced three-year-old.
SELECTIONS
4.40 Emerald Banner
5.10 Jered Maddox
5.45 Victor’s Choice
6.15 Deluca Chop
6.45 Wishes And Dreams (Dbl)
7.15 Sarah Purser
7.45 Longbourn
8.15 Hijo De La Luna (Nap)