Kilbeggan can expect another large crowd for this evening's fixture, an expectation that most other tracks in the country can only look on with envy. The Co Westmeath venue is proof of what widespread local support and a hard working management can achieve despite what, in all honesty, is less than inspiring racing. Be that as it may, Applefort should be good enough reason in himself to go to Kilbeggan today.
The Michael Cunningham-trained seven-year-old was a central player in what for many was the most inspired moment of the entire Galway festival. On the last day Applefort looked to have a Beginners Chase at his mercy when approaching the last two fences in the dip only to stumble on landing over the first of them.
Amazingly Richard Dunwoody managed to say on board but was still clambering back from Applefort's neck to the saddle when the last fence loomed - Dunwoody's balancing act to get over that obstacle was something to behold. Applefort played his part admirably too and it even looked for a second as if the combination would still win only for Kidstuff to stay on past him and win by four lengths.
There's little doubt that Applefort would have won that Galway race except for the dip dramatics and, with Dunwoody reunited with him again, he looks a decent bet to gain compensation in the Hackett Bookmakers Chase. That decent handicap hurdler The Quads could be the main danger.
Dunwoody can be on the mark earlier as well with Linda's Boy in the Cleaboy Stud Handicap Chase. Enda Bolger also runs Monday's Roscommon runner-up Young Dubliner, who will be ridden by Charlie Swan, and Jason Titley's mount High-Spec will also be fancied. But Linda's Boy was a good winner at Galway and could appreciate the drop back in trip from his last effort when beaten by Shuil Na Mhuire here two weeks ago.
It shouldn't be a blank evening by any means for Swan though. Aidan O'Brien, who yesterday described Heeremandi as a "likely runner" in Sunday's Group 1 Prix Morny Piaget at Deauville, sends two of his lesser stable lights for the first two races and both can win.
Dockline should relish the three mile trip of the Loughnagore Maiden Hurdle and on his last running at Gowran 10 days ago when beaten by stablemate Bessmount Leader, with Bitofabuzz six lengths back in third, will be very hard to beat.
Kayaliyna was in action half an hour earlier than Dockline that day at Gowran and also filled the runner-up spot behind a stable companion, in this case Vintners Venture.
That horse subsequently failed to frank the form but Kayaliyna's jumping was not particularly fluent on that occasion. If Swan can get her to negotiate the flights more impressively she should be capable of beating Aglish Pride, the mount of Ken Whelan who was such a success on the recent Irish jockeys' trip to Australia.
Greg Harford can score for the amateurs against the professionals on Fane Path in the Lockes Handicap Hurdle, especially if Noel Meade's horse gets the good early pace off which he can quicken so effectively.
Sister Rose and Tony Martin are selected to win the bumper and while the Mullingar Maiden Hurdle looks a trappy contest, blinkers could give the winning of it to Dessie Hughes' Fortynineplus.
