Deejaydee to win again

The domination by local trainers of Limerick races can continue where the usual suspects of Messrs Hourigan and McNamara can round up the main prizes.

Racing opens with the AIB Hurdle, and Deejaydee can follow up his earlier success at this course with a defeat of Mary's Manna and the Galway winner Cnocan Glas, trained by Eric McNamara.

Deejaydee has stamina aplenty, which he will need in the testing conditions, and on his best form looks well up to winning this. He didn't show anything like his best form at Galway in October when a disappointing fourth to Coolaness, but any horse is worth forgiving one poor effort.

In contrast, there was nothing wrong with Deejaydee here, also in October, when beating Native Wit by a length and giving Kevin O'Brien a farewell winner into retirement.

Mary's Manna got off the mark at Tramore last month and is a clear danger, but the form of Cnocan Glas's defeat of Sunday Venture at Galway has not been franked since.

Andrew McNamara should have had a decent day on Saturday, and if he has it will be only an encouragement for his charges on Sunday. Of those, Runabout looks one to keep on the right side of in the handicap chase.

This gelding has been a consistent servant in recent seasons, especially when patiently ridden on soft conditions. He gets the soft conditions this time.

McNamara should also be on the mark in the concluding bumper where Mr Lundy, a Listowel bumper winner back in the autumn, has to give weight away. Although Mr Lundy hasn't managed to get his head in front since then, the balance of his placed efforts will make him hard to beat.