WELSH GRIT, my weekend nap selection, has only a single win, a bumper at Dundalk, to show for 21 starts under National Hunt Rules and yet in place money over hurdles, he has earned more than £6,000. His form figures reveal just how splendidly and how unluckily consistent he has been, but I believe that he will get his turn in the Midland Oil Handicap Hurdle over two miles at Roscommon tomorrow.
I don't see Just Little winning with 12-0 on her back, and while Savintt Bond was runner-up to Bob The Yank in the big hurdle at Killarney, it was a courtesy second, with Colm's Rock exiting at the last jump when in second place.
I believe that Bank Statement is one capable of improving on his last run. This was behind Major Jamie at Punchestown when he started third favourite, but having shown in a challenging position entering the straight, faded out of the picture.
Charles O'Brien, with two Group Races already to his credit, has made a good start to the Season and Hillside Rose could he his first two-year-old winner. She finished third to King Of Kings at the Curragh and, doing her best work at the finish, will surely relish the seventh furlong here.
Taklif has all the appearance of a hot tip in the Dermot Hughes Toyota Car Sales Hurdle. He was impressive in beating Omar here and the loser won afterwards. There is nothing to test him.
In the early part of the season John Oxx's horses were under a cloud, but in the last fortnight things have started to come right for him and Ebadiyla cut a dash in yesterday's Vodafone Oaks.
He has a St ring of late developing maidens coming along and one of these is the Aga Khan's Sirinndi. He did not run at two and in his first outing he was a 16 to 1 chance when fourth at Leopardstown behind Dr Johnson who went on to win the Conrad International Dublin Silver Stakes, the race that preceded the Lexus Irish 2,000 Guineas.
On that first run Sirinndi can take care of Western Chief and Anisata in the Heinken Maiden.
Quite Chuffed was an 11 to 4 chance when withdrawn at Leopardstown and he is assured of a prominent showing in the market.
