Leamhog out to make amends for blunder

THE Aidan 0'Brien trained Leamhog must have been concerned in the finish of the maiden hurdle won by Folly Road from the favourite Wyatt at Naas recently but for a dreadful last flight blunder when well in contention. Charlie Swan lost his irons and the horse struggled home to finish fifth.

Leamhog reappears in today's Cahir Hurdle at Thurles where he takes on last month's course and distance winner Matts Dilemma who along with Jessica Harrington's charge Grange Court may give Leamhog most to do.

The Goodwill Beginners Chase is an opportunity for the Arthur Moore-trained Amble Speedy who did not have the best of runs when finishing third behind Papillon at Fairyhouse. Ballinagreen may be the danger here.

Fiddlers Bow VI, a good winner of a 25-runner handicap hurdle at Naas and subsequently fourth to Major Jamie at Fairyhouse where a second-last flight mistake cost him ground, has it all to do under top weight in the Munster Handicap Hurdle. But as recent winners of maiden hurdles Montelisa and the Willie Mullins trained Ancient Historian are close up in the handicap, Noel Meade's charge cannot be dismissed.

Hemisphere, who sandwiched a winning treble for Dessie Hughes when beating Barnageera Boy at Fairyhouse last month, is taken to win the Kilsheelan Handicap Chase in which the consistent Castalino should again finish there or thereabouts.

Willie Mullins, who has saddled 50 winners this year, has prospects of a double with Three Rivers in the Templemore Maiden hurdle and Welsh Grit in the Golden Maiden Hurdle while Jodesi will be fancied to add to the stable's gains in the Liscahill Flat Race.

. David Nicholson has fine prospects of yet another double at Leicester today.

Sanmartino can get his hurdling career off to a winning start in the Knighton Novices' Hurdle. Winner of the 1995 Ebor Handicap on the Flat for Barry Hills, he showed that he is every inch a Pattern performer on his final start for his previous trainer when chasing home Celeric in the Group Three Jockey Club Cup at Newmarket in October.

Shining Light can complete the Nicholson and Adrian Maguire brace with a win in the Silver Bell Handicap Chase.