Big RPR proves City Island could be Ballymore material

Marcus Buckland looks back at the weekend's Irish action

City Island makes a lovely shape over a hurdle en route to an easy victory at Naas on SaturdayCredit: Caroline Norris

With the continued shutdown of British racing the focus was solely on Ireland this weekend and there were a good number of Cheltenham Festival clues to emerge from the action at both Naas and Punchestown.

It was hard not to be impressed by the way in which 1-5 favourite City Island stamped his authority on his eight rivals in the 2m3f novice hurdle at Naas on Saturday.

A Punchestown bumper winner last year, he has made an almost seamless transition to hurdles this season and would be unbeaten in three starts had he not been stripped of his win at the Galway festival in August (he tested positive for a trace of arsenic).

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Published on 10 February 2019inNews

Last updated 19:52, 10 February 2019

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