Dolydille for quick double

With the "festival" tag attached to Gowran, it is not surprising to see a horse making an attempt at a quick follow up and Dolydille looks up to doing just that in today's nine-furlong handicap.

Jim Bolger's filly justified 11 to 8 favouritism in some style here on Wednesday, running clear of Simpany after being rousted along by Kevin Manning early in the straight.

She was defying a 5lb penalty for a Cork success on that occasion and judged by the ease with which Dolydille landed the spoils here 48 hours ago, she looks a reasonable bet to do something similar now.

The most valuable contest is the £30,000 Kilkenny Beer Handicap Hurdle where Janiste is selected to make another comparatively quick follow up. This mare won at Punchestown recently after a summer layoff and did so in style, going six lengths clear of Oranbay in a two and a half mile contest after going like a winner from some way out.

That should put Janiste in peak shape for this assignment and she will have to be with the old rivals, Half Barrell and Choice Of Kings, in opposition along with The Cushman and Clonmel Commercial also.

A very interesting runner in the Royal & SunAlliance Maiden Hurdle is Alexander Prize who may yet end up running in a similarly titled novice hurdle at Cheltenham come March.

Willie Mullins's charge has already appeared at the festival with a ninth in the Festival Bumper behind Monsignor. Alexander Prize went there well fancied to continue Mullins's superb record in the race after an impressive debut at Navan and he should have the inherent class to win over hurdles time of asking.

I Have To Go put in a good first effort in over three months when fifth to Impulsif at Fairyhouse and with the ground quickening up all the time, it's good to see I Have To Go's winning bracket at Dundalk.