Race 1: The Mullan Family Confined Hunt Winners
Brian Dougan could be triply represented in this, with SPUDS TROUBLE likely the pick of the trio, as last seasons Taylorstown winner ran a fine race to finish third at Downpatrick and will have benefitted from his reappearance at Oldtown a fortnight ago. Track recruit Our Bonus has a hurdles mark of 83 and this would be his first outing for Marshall Watson having previously been campaigned by Billy Lanigan, whilst the James Lambe-trained newcomer Henry Africa is out of a half-sister to Butlers Tavern who finished placed in a number of maidens in the region for David Christie.
Race 2: Markethill Livestock & Farm Sales 5yo Geldings Maiden
On paper this would look a wide-open race, and so it could present an opportunity for EGLATINO KAUTO to get his season back on track. The French-bred finished third in a four-year-old maiden at Castletown-Geoghegan on the opening weekend of the season and is back from a break. Go Whatever and Silver In Disguise both disappointed last time out having previously offered a good deal of promise, Cuff Parade made an eye-catching debut in a competitive Tattersalls Farm maiden, whilst Blue Markie ran one of his best races around an undulating track at Taylorstown in the spring and may be suited by this course.
Race 3: Donnelly Bros Dungannon 5yo Mares Maiden
CREAM SPARKLES brings the strongest form into this having recently finished second in a small-field contest at Kirkistown and she could step up to get her head in front here. Wingandaprayer and Primo Scintilla have both made recent debuts, whilst of the newcomers, Second Symphony is closely related to Quiet Account, who has been a prolific pointer for her handler Colin McBratney, and Gerald Quinn has made a good start to his training career, and he has a nicely related Dubai Destination mare in Knocknasillan that could be worth a market check.
Race 4: Armagh Construction Ltd Armagh Open
A four-year-old maiden winner in the autumn, WINGED LEADER has gone from strength to strength since, and he ran a huge race to chase home this seasons leading point-to-pointer Kruzhlinin in a very competitive open at Kirkistown recently. Sizing Coal chased home leading Cheltenham hope Stand Up And Fight at Down Royal over Christmas and is the obvious danger, Anseanachai Cliste is a two-time previous winner of the hunt race on this card, the long-absent former Country Hurdle winner Lac Fontana won well at Ballynoe, whilst the likes of It Came To Pass and Drawn N Drank are other very capable horses in a competitive renewal.
Race 5: WHR Accountants Winner Of Two
Golden Nomad and Getaman, two maiden winners from the autumn, both suffered comprehensive defeats on their first outings in winners company recently, and whilst both could well bounce back, it may be worth taking a chance on the hat-trick seeking HI MURPHY. The seven-year-old is also returning from a mid-season break, having been last seen defeating recent Down Royal-second School Lane at Loughanmore. Samurai Cracker jumped particularly well on his way to a maiden success at Mainstown last month, Slemish has not been seen for 14 months, whilst Puff My Pistons is a former winner of this race from 2017 and so brings course form into the reckoning.
Race 6: Philip White Tyres 6yo Geldings Maiden
The Shane Gault-trained MOLPEG only narrowly came out the wrong side of a tight three-way finish at Tattersalls Farm in December in what was a big step forward, and he would not have to step up much further to get his head in front here. Last years runner-up Cosmic Flight did not have luck on his side last season and could have his first run since April, Doran The Legend failed to land a gamble at Ballyvodock recently but was not beaten far as connectiosn seek to recoup their losses, whilst The Bolder Boy, Hollbank King, Pyrios and Royal Drumlee are all capable of a big run.
