Prickly to win for in-form O'Grady

Edward O'Grady was in unerring form at Killarney last week, sending three runners to the Kerry track, all of whom won. Not only that, but all three scored with considerable aplomb, especially Prickly who captured a 1m6f handicap under Billy Lee without having to get a hard race. O'Grady now sends the six-year-old north for Down Royal's Kerry Foods Rated Hurdle (5.45) in a bid to improve his hurdles strike-rate.

For a horse who made a strong impression by winning three of his 2pts winfour runs in bumpers, including a comfortable success at today's venue last year, Prickly has been a slightly disappointing sort over hurdles so far, failing to add to his tally since running away with a Kilbeggan maiden just over a year ago.

Despite having run well to take second in a Flat handicap at Leopardstown the previous week he failed to make any sort of impression in a Galway festival handicap hurdle won by the subsequent Ebor winner Heartbreak City. A history of wind-problems, but for which O'Grady reckons he would have made a very good horse indeed, has doubtless contributed to his lapses. Yet he showed such authority in last week's contest that he can be fancied to collect today in a race of today's standard.