RACING:IT IS just over a month since Tom Mullins enjoyed one of the best days of his career at Punchestown and the Co Kilkenny trainer will be hoping the Kildare air will do the trick for Elsie in this evening's finale.
There is little doubt Elsie has the ability to win today’s bumper. She has, after all, a pair of runner-up placings behind the top bumper performers Champagne Fever and Don Cossack to her credit. But it is not as straightforward as pure ability.
Elsie started a 4-7 favourite at Killarney on her last start and ran out with a circuit to go under Jane Mangan. Before her debut at Fairyhouse behind Champagne Fever she got loose before the start.
The Mullins mare is clearly not straightforward herself and jockey Colin Motherway has a task on his hands today. If he gets it right, though, Elsie could be hard to beat.
Mullins is certainly in form at the track having completed a valuable 59-1 double at Punchestown’s festival with Alderwood and Some Article.
Ground conditions will be ideal for Slieveardagh in the first conditions chase and he can get the better of Raptor, while the latter’s jockey, Ruby Walsh, could be a value option in the other chase aboard Your Busy.
Loosen My Load’s ability to last out this distance is not assured and Dancing Tornado, who holds a big shout on figures, doesn’t win very often. A repeat of his Limerick effort behind Frisco Depot can see Your Busy go close.
