Top-class Mullins pair Easy Game and Kemboy face off in fascinating clash

Kerry Group Chase | 2m4f | 5yo+ | RTV

Although this race may lack quantity, it certainly does not lack in quality as two top-class stablemates look set to go head-to-head.

The Willie Mullins-trained duo Easy Game and Kemboy, rated 159 and 165 respectively, set a clear standard in this five-runner race.

Easy Game won this last year and has enjoyed a terrific run of form this term in similar events. There was some fortune involved in his Grade 2 Devenish Chase victory on Irish Grand National day, but he followed that with a brilliant display to land the An Riocht Chase at Killarney.

After taking chases at this track and at Tramore, he was given a hard task carrying top weight in the Galway Plate last time and is likely to be right at home back in this company, but he has to concede 6lb to a stablemate rated 6lb higher.

Kemboy en route to winning the 2021 Irish Gold CupCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Paul Townend will ride Easy Game while Danny Mullins is reunited with Kemboy. The four-time Grade 1 winner's last success was in the 2021 Irish Gold Cup and this looks a good move by connections to target a race where he is nicely treated.

Call Me Lyreen has won twice from five starts since starting out over fences in May. He was a good winner of a Wexford novice event before finishing second in a Grade 3 at the Galway festival.

He had no answer to Authorized Art at Killarney in novice company last time out and faces an uphill task to challenge the big two here, with connections opting for first-time cheekpieces to spark improvement.

The Dara Man and The Little Yank are both useful performers – The Little Yank was a good winner at Sligo on Wednesday – but they have a lot to find on ratings if they are to trouble the Mullins pair.

What they say

Willie Mullins, trainer of Easy Game and Kemboy
Easy Game is in good order. He’ll like the ground and the track and hopefully he’ll give another good account. He’s enjoying a good season. Kemboy hasn’t had a run for a while. The trip might be just a little short for him but he’s in good shape and should run well.

Gordon Elliott, trainer of Call Me Lyreen
It looks a competitive race. We put the cheekpieces on and they might help him along a bit better but he looks to have a lot to do.

John Patrick Ryan, trainer of The Dara Man and The Little Yank
The Dara Man is in good form and will hopefully go a little better than he did at Sligo. The Little Yank is a smashing horse and I like him a lot. He’s always hardy. He’s a good jumper of a fence and I think he’ll run better than his price might suggest.

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