Ciara's Prince should be worth supporting

AFTER Cheltenham, the emphasis is understandably on quantity rather than quality at today's Limerick and Down Royal meetings, but one horse who sidestepped last week's extravagance can brighten the day for punters.

Ciara's Prince stayed away from Cheltenham's last-race lottery, the County Hurdle, and Francis Flood looks to have found a far more suitable opportunity in the Thomond Handicap Hurdle at Limerick.

To be fair, Ciara's Prince would not have been disgraced at Cheltenham, judged on his last two races. He was easily beaten, when getting a lot of weight, by Space Trucker at Leopardstown two weeks ago but was not disgraced in third. Before that, Ciara's Prince ran on impressively to beat the high class Lady Daisy by two and a half lengths at Naas and if he is in that soft of form again, he will take a lot of beating today.

Doubles for Aidan O'Brien are so common as not to be remarked upon any more, but those who back his Leamhog in the Limerick Racing Club Novice Chase should have plenty to talk about. Leamhog was three and a half lengths clear of Le Ginno at Naas last time, but while Tom Foley's horse is 6lb better off, Foley is concerned about the ground for his horse.

The Corbally Handicap Hurdle is a competitive contest, but O'Brien's Sir John looks a dependable bet to get into the frame.

Up north, Noel Meade looks the trainer to follow in the opening two races. Atha Beithe was going noticeably well in the race won by Bahao at Navan eight days ago when he crashed at the third last. The first division of the maiden hurdle looks like suitable compensation. Fane Path was a promising fourth to the well-backed Pat Hartigan at Leopardstown and looks to have less to do in the second division.