Mullins to take feature

Keeping on the right side of Native-Darrig has proved a profitable exercise in recent months and using the motto "if it ain't broke, don't fix it," he looks the one to be on again in today's Smithwicks Handicap Hurdle on the fourth day of Listowel.

Between the flat and hurdles, Willie Mullins's admirably consistent horse has won six of his last seven races, with only a disappointing effort in the Galway Hurdle disrupting the sequence.

Mullins was confident the undulations of Galway proved Native-Darrig's undoing and he was proved right when the six-year-old put in a fantastically game effort to win the Havasnack Race at Tralee from Winged Hussar.

Making most of the running, Native-Darrig plugged on through the very soft ground to great effect but should be even more at home on today's better surface.

Try For Ever, who looks a big danger, was ultimately a very impressive winner at Galway last time, beating Mister Chippy by an easy half a length, with I Remember It Well third and Punting Pete back in sixth. Try For Ever arrived cantering on the scene but had pulled very hard up to then and a repeat of that could be her undoing here.

Native-Darrig has been dropped a couple of pounds over flights for that disappointing effort in the Galway Hurdle and, on this more level track, he can put that run behind him and can again show his amazing consistency.

The opening three races look likely to be won by short-priced favourites. Boldini started 1 to 3 on his Curragh debut but threw his chance away by hanging dramatically left in the closing stages and going down by half a length to Irish Summit. That swerve was disturbing, and the fact that Boldini is a half brother to the notoriously unreliable Green Green Desert is possibly even more so, but such is the dearth of opposition today, he should still win at his leisure.

Private Peace hasn't run since the Punchestown festival when down the field behind Paddy's Return, but had previously run a close second to Forest Ivory at Aintree and won a good race at Punchestown on soft ground. The two miles and six of the Beginners Chase will suit this potentially smart stayer. Boss Doyle was a smart novice hurdler last season and although he too hasn't run for a while, Conor O'Dwyer must be fancying his chances of winning the second division of the Beginners Chase.