Mister Munnelly looks best

MISTER MUNNELLY has not been seen out since Budweiser Derby Day at the Curragh when he opened up favourite for the Seoul Handicap but drifted out to 6 to 1 and was beaten a short head and a length into third place behind Hint-Of-Romance.

Before he had landed a morning price and on-course gamble at Leopardstown, beating Snoozeandyoulose handily.

For his return to Leopardstown this afternoon for a division of the Dargle Handicap, Mister Munnelly finds himself racing off a mark only 4lb higher than that which he made light of and I nap him to win again in the hands of his very competent 8lb claimer, Richard Condon.

The second division looks a far more tricky contest but One Man Band, who came from behind to be third to North Of What over six furlongs at Fairyhouse, will welcome the extra furlong.

The most valuable race on the Flat in Ireland over the weekend is the £20,000 EBF Premier Fillies Nursery. Jim Bolger, who won the Birdcatchers with Mosconi, is again double-handed with the selected Caiseal Ros.

She has not been out of the first two in five starts and most recently won at Galway. However, Christy Roche's mount Menja, who has to give her 3lb, may prove to be a filly of better quality.

She is a course and distance winner and while disappointing in the Group Three Futurity Stakes at the Curragh in August, this was a race that was dominated by English raiders who supplied four of the first five.

Burden Of Proof could be the first leg of a Roche double even if he continues to prove a vexatiously expensive colt to follow but only Free To Speak appears to stand between him and his first 1996 success in the Crofton Race and the challenger has also failed to win so far this year.

The IHA had intended to launch the new bumper race trio with a pool of £2,000 but with only six runners declared in the Dundrum Race, they elected to delay the launch until Wexford tomorrow.

Rathbawn Prince landed a tidy coup at Punchestown heating a subsequent winner Do You Know What and can confirm that outcome again.

Tomorrow's Wexford meeting has stolen a march on its rivals with the most valuable weekend jumping contest, a sponsored affair, the Bewleys Hotel of Newlands Cross Handicap Chase over three mile, carrying a purse of £12,000. The initiative has been well rewarded with a top notch field.