Eric McNamara could hold key to competitive handicap at local track with My Friend The Wind

Several runners are coming off the back of underwhelming efforts but could relish being back on a sounder surface having struggled in testing conditions in recent months.

One who put in a decent showing last time is the Eric McNamara-trained My Friend The Wind, who was beaten 11 lengths into fifth in a handicap chase at Clonmel on unsuitably soft ground. He had previously run well at this track over Christmas when third to a well-handicapped winner from the Willie Mullins stable despite being hampered by a faller two out.

He's the most consistent in this field, having been placed five times in the past year, and thus the most solid option.

McNamara, who has an impressive 18 per cent strike-rate at his local track this season, also saddles Millstream Lady, who landed a 2m4f mares' handicap hurdle at the track in December before not really seeing out a longer trip last time. She will be less well suited by the ground than her stablemate.

John McConnell's stable is in good form and West Away has good claims on his form from last summer, which included placed efforts in competitive handicap hurdles at the Punchestown festival and Cartmel either side of a Roscommon victory.

However, he needs to come forward significantly from a poor reappearance at Naas last month.

Silver King will find this much more suitable than the Listed novice handicap chase at Navan he contested last time, but he's coming off the back of a few below-par efforts and probably doesn't want the ground too quick.

Quest With Speed: only success came at Limerick in a maiden hurdle in November 2023Credit: Patrick McCann

Quest With Speed landed his only success at this track in 2023 and should be okay on the ground but was tailed off at Cork on his return. If he can return to the sort of form he showed early last year, particularly when runner-up in a competitive handicap hurdle at the Punchestown festival, he has a good chance.

Grange Walk ran an excellent race when third at the Dublin Racing Festival over fences two starts ago. His last run over hurdles was a respectable fourth at Clonmel in a decent contest in November and this trip seems ideal. He is a tempting proposition off this mark over hurdles and makes each-way appeal with the nine runners.

Slip Jig has dropped to a workable mark, which piques interest, while Ballinoe Blaze hasn't showed anything of late in testing conditions but is well handicapped on his third in a Clonmel maiden hurdle in December. The return to better ground should see him show more.

Going update

The ground is good (watering) following no rain and warm weather since entries. Warm and dry forecast.

What they say

Eric McNamara, trainer of Millstream Lady and My Friend The Wind
My Friend The Wind should be okay on the ground, although I'd still prefer a shower of rain. He ran well at the track at Christmas and should have a good chance. Millstream Lady disappointed at Naas but the race didn't work to suit her. She enjoys the track but would need a bit of rain as she definitely wouldn't want the ground too quick.

John Ryan, trainer of Grange Walk
He's been in good form and ran very well when third at the Dublin Racing Festival over fences before the ground went against him at Gowran. Hopefully he has a big chance back over hurdles off this mark.

Eoin McCarthy, trainer of Ballinoe Blaze
I had it in my head all winter that he wanted soft ground, being by Affinisea, but his better runs have come on nice ground and I'm hoping the better surface will see an improved performance.

Colin Motherway, trainer of Slip Jig
She ran well at Cork and we were very happy with her. She just lost her spot halfway through the race and Darragh [O'Keeffe] said a step up in trip would suit her a bit better. She wants nice ground, albeit she wouldn't want it too quick. I don't think the ground will be a bother to her as Limerick do a very good job.

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