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Of all my runners, Dallas Des Pictons looks to be my best chance.
Naas Saturday
12:00 Empire Burleque
He’s going to have his second run over hurdles in the two mile maiden on Saturday.
A couple of seasons ago he was quite promising and he won his bumper first time out but he just wasn’t himself last season.
I’m hoping that he’s on the way back and he did run better than his final position would suggest at Galway last month when he probably paid the price for trying to make a race of it with a very smart looking horse of Willie’s (Royal Rendezvous).
That was his first run since February so I’d be expecting him to improve a nice bit from that run and he should be very competitive.
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12:30 Tycoon Prince
This is a tough ask with Footpad and Saint Calvados in the line up so I’m hoping that he puts in a clear round and picks up a share of prize money.
After winning his beginners chase last season he struggled in good company and he hasn’t yet been able to deliver on the promise he showed earlier in his career.
The trip and the small field will suit and I’m just hoping for a solid showing.
13:40 Dallas Des Pictons
He’s a nice type who came to us from France during the summer and I’m happy with what he has shown so far.
In France he showed a nice level of form to win two of his three starts on the flat and I’d be hoping that he will make up into a nice novice hurdler this winter.
He works like a nice horse and jumps well so I’m looking forward to getting him started and he shapes like one that will stay well so that’s why he is starting out over just short of two and a half miles.
As is the case with most of our winter horses he will improve a good bit for the run so whatever he does today there will be more to come from him. He should run a nice race.
14:50 Sire Du Berlais
He has yet to win for us but he hasn’t had all that much racing and he has run some good races including when he was fourth to Blow By Blow in the Martin Pipe at Cheltenham last season.
On his last start at Punchestown he didn’t run anywhere near his best but there were a few of our horses who just weren’t firing at the time.
It won’t be easy for him off top weight on his first run of the season and I’d be expecting him to improve from this run so hopefully he will run a solid race and be able to build on it next time.
15:25 Burren Life
He’s going to have his second run of the season in what looks a smart beginners chase. I was pleased with his first run over fences at Tipperary a month ago and his work at home since then would suggest that he has progressed from that run.
He stays well so it possibly isn’t ideal coming back in distance but I think the benefit of a previous run over fences will help him in this regard.
This is a good race and you could make a case for a number of the runners so I’m under no illusions about the task facing this horse but I couldn’t be happier with how he is going and he will hopefully give a good account of himself.
16:00 Daylight Katie
She’s a nice type of mare who has been coming together well in her work and she has shown enough in her recent work to indicate that she is ready to start off for the season.
When she won her point-to-point she looked useful and I’m hoping that she will give her owner, David Dunsdon, plenty of fun in bumpers this season.
She won’t have any trouble going out in trip later in the season but this distance should be fine for her.
Like plenty of our runners over the weekend she will improve for this run but she should still give a decent account of herself.
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