Leamhog set to complete hat-trick

As sure a sign of summer as any is the start of racing at Kilbeggan, and the Co Westmeath track will be in its element this evening if the sun continues to shine on the forecast good to firm ground. That also looks like it will be good news for the hat-trick seeking Leamhog.

The Pat Fahy-trained eight-year-old surprised his connections at Cork last month when coming from well off the pace to beat Greenflag Princess over three miles.

Fahy's surprise was that Leamhog was able to put in such a performance on heavy ground, but it only emphasised the good from the horse is in, a fact proven with an even easier win at Down Royal at the start of this month.

That was on a good surface and Leamhog looks as qualified as any of these to handle this faster ground. Michael Hourigan has a fine record at Kilbeggan and his Coolree Lord may be the main danger.

Mouse Morris and Conor O'Dwyer can start the day off in style with a double. Hardycomestohardy hasn't run since Leopardstown at Christmas when sixth to Lord Dal, Sawa-Id and Cliffs Of Dooneen. His fitness has to be taken on trust in the Horse Leap Maiden Hurdle but his potential looks much greater than the opposition's and near his best, Hardycomestohardy should win.

Morris and O'Dwyer's candidate in the second is Master Of Illusion, who has some reasonable bumper form and the five-year-old is preferred to the Killarney runner-up Lady Moskva.

There is a £5,475 carry over in the Jackpot, and the ground could be the crucial factor in deciding if Magical Fun will be a banker in the second leg, the Dawn Dairies Beginners Chase.

Magical Fun proved to be a useful handicap hurdler on soft ground last season, especially when trotting up at the Tralee festival in a glorified swamp. It was also soft on his reappearance at Killarney when running a promising fifth to Cavalier D'Dor, and improvement can be expected from that. The ground is the big "if" but should Magical Fun act on it, he will be hard to beat.