Weight may not stop Jassu

GALWAY'S three-day autumn meeting concludes this afternoon, with the Nortel Applications Handicap Chase featured.

Richard Dunwoody's mount, Jassu, pulled up in the Galway Plate, certainly needed that race and has his chance, even under top weight, on his staying third behind Royal Mountbrowne and Vital Trix in a two and a half mile handicap chase at Fairyhouse in April.

At a difference of nearly a stone and a half, the Paddy Mullins-trained Beakstown will be fancied. The narrow winner of a beginners' chase over this course last month, Beakstown was not extended to win a handicap chase over today's distance at Tramore. I take Jassu to give the weight.

Pat Flynn, who saddled a brace of winners here on Monday, may win the Connaught Security Group Handicap with Swift Cert. The selection won an apprentice handicap at Tralee, where High In The Clouds, who went close to winning on Monday, was relegated to fifth place, with Troskie sixth. Two days later, Swift Cert finished fifth under a 5lb penalty but in a two furlong shorter handicap.

Wesperada, a course and distance winner, was unplaced in Monday's featured handicap, but his rider had injured a foot coming out of the stalls and, in pain, obviously could not do the horse justice. Sir Oracle must be considered, but Swift Cert can credit his in-form trainer with another success.

The Trappers Inn Handicap is another open race. I favour the Dermot Weld-trained Zankle who won twice over this course and distance at last month's Festival on the latter occasion defying a 5lb penalty to beat the McDonogh Handicap third, Flaunt, and Monica's Choice. Cashel Princess has a lot to do but is not without a chance.

The John Oxx-trained Matangi is top rated for the Nortel Meridian Race. Badly hampered and knocked back in the Golden Pages Handicap at Leopardstown, the filly had previously won her maiden with ease at Roscommon.

On Tralee running, Caitriona's Choice should confirm placings with Ask The Butler in the Nortel Enterprise Maiden Hurdle, while Caiseal Ros, the seven-lengths, winner of her maiden at Tralee, will not be easily beaten in the Galway City Vintners Race.