The popular Kilbeggan track has its usual full quota of runners this evening and even with top weight, Choice Jenny will be the choice of many in the three mile Hibernian Handicap Hurdle.
The Paddy Mullins-trained mare looked all over the winner of a better contest than this at the Galway Festival only to be overhauled in the closing stages by The Grey Mare who beat her by a length and a half.
Choice Jenny, who again wears blinkers this evening, led before the second last at Galway which seemed plenty soon enough for her to be in front. If ridden slightly more patiently, she looks capable of taking care of this opposition including Island Of Dreams, a course and distance winner here last month, who is lurking towards the bottom of the handicap.
Another Galway race could hold the key to the opening two contests. Dip's Guest and No Grousing filled the minor placings behind Gan Saru in a maiden hurdle on the Tuesday but look up to breaking their ducks.
Adrian Maguire rides Dip's Guest for Pat Lacey in the mares maiden hurdle and should be again capable of finishing ahead of the bumper winner Star Orient who was pulled up at Galway.
No Grousing is one of four fouryear-olds in the Dysart Maiden Hurdle and was another who advertised the talents of Cavan trainer Shane Donohoe at Galway. He was running on strongly towards the end behind Gan Saru and this opposition doesn't look particularly strong.
Galway is also where Lough Slania had his last racecourse appearance, getting up close to home to take third place behind Amy Johnson in a two mile handicap. He will be fancied in the Tyrellspass Handicap Hurdle over three furlongs further but slight preference is for John Joe Walsh's Tobar Na Carraige who was second to Bolton Forest at Limerick last month with the useful Tuska Ridge a couple of lengths behind.
Kieran Gaule, who rides No Grousing in the first, also has a chance of taking the Beginners Chase with Our-Dante while Francis Flood's good bumper record means that Arbitrage Man, sixth to Hardiman at Naas last November, will have his supporters.
Peter Chapple-Hyam's Dark Moondancer gained a comfortable French Listed win in the Prix de Reux at Deauville yesterday. The Manton raider won by two lengths from Shadow Dance. Chapple-Hyam mentioned the Group Two Grand Prix de Deauville as a possible future target for the winner.
