Intriguing Irish 2,000 Guineas entry returns for Aidan O'Brien - Sunday's punting pointers

Punting pointers for some of Sunday's meetings . . .

Exeter: The New Lion form represented

The opening 2m5½f maiden hurdle (2.28) may have only four runners but it features an intriguing clash between Doctor Kildare and Kayf Dancer. Doctor Kildare won a junior bumper at Bangor last season before disappointing when pulled up on his hurdling debut at the same venue in November.

The Nicky Henderson-trained five-year-old has shown more in both starts since wind surgery and his second to Queensbury Boy last time reads well given the winner followed up at Newbury on Friday and is being aimed at Graded assignments.

Kayf Dancer already has form behind a proven Grade 1 performer, having finished third in a Chepstow maiden hurdle won by The New Lion. The seven-year-old has not been seen since that promising run behind the Challow and Turners Novices' Hurdle hero in October. 

Kayf Dancer14:28 Exeter

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Jky: Micheal Nolan Tnr: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Exeter stat: rare course visit

Zac Baker was successful on his only previous ride in the bumper (5.23) and he returns to the track for the first time since 2022 to partner Couer D'Alene.

Couer d'Alene17:23 Exeter

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Jky: Mr Zac Baker Tnr: C R Barber

Limerick: Slevin against double green

JJ Slevin is the retained rider for Simon Munir and Isaac Souede yet missed out on a winner for the owners at last week's Cheltenham Festival due to Willie Mullins' stable jockey Paul Townend having first choice of any Closutton runners in a race.

Therefore, Slevin watched on while Townend steered Jasmin De Vaux to victory in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle. Townend rides in the double green here again, although this time by default as Fun Fun Fun is Mullins' only runner in the Grade 3 Hugh McMahon Memorial Novice Chase (4.03).

Slevin does at least have the opportunity to participate this time around as he is reunited with Monbeg Park, the Sean Doyle-trained eight-year-old who he won a novice hurdle on at the 2023 Punchestown festival, when beating Spillane's Tower off level weights by two and a half lengths. Slevin also helped Monbeg Park get off the mark over fences at the fourth attempt at Wexford last July.

Monbeg Park16:03 Limerick

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Jky: J J Slevin Tnr: Sean Thomas Doyle

Limerick stat: jockey to note

Patrick Mullins has ridden five of the last ten winners of the Listed bumper (5.13) and combines again with last year's successful trainer Tom Cooper to partner Oneinthewell.

Oneinthewell17:13 Limerick

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Jky: Mr P W Mullins Tnr: Thomas Cooper

Naas: Irish 2,000 Guineas entry reappears

Mississippi River was placed on all three of his starts as a juvenile but it was his second outing, at Leopardstown in October, that stands out the most. The Aidan O'Brien-trained son of Lope De Vega chased home stablemate Twain in that maiden and the winner followed up in the Group 1 Criterium International at Saint-Cloud.

Mississippi River was six lengths behind Twain and ideally needs to get his head in front in order to justify his Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas entry. Should Wayne Lordan's mount oblige on his reappearance in the 7f maiden (2.38), it will offer encouragement to backers of the O'Brien-trained Serengeti in the Irish Racing Writers Association Ron McKnight Memorial Madrid Handicap (3.48).

Serengeti finished a head behind Mississippi River when giving that rival 7lb in Twain's maiden victory before getting off the mark at Dundalk in October. The Wootton Bassett colt reverts to the turf and is favourite for the €45,000 handicap his trainer won with subsequent four-timer Group 1 winner Paddington in 2023.

Mississippi River14:38 Naas

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Jky: Wayne Lordan Tnr: A P O'Brien

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