Decent novice hurdlers Mounthenry and Beautiful Vision clash again at Limerick today and the former's fans will be hoping he won't need the help of stewards to come out on top this time.
The Charles Byrnes-trained horse emerged from Punchestown last month with a victory after getting a Listed contest in the stewards' room from Blueberry Boy, who drifted badly left after the last.
Six lengths back in third was Beautiful Vision who was staying on at the finish and is back for another crack at his old rival in this afternoon's feature.
It's significant that Blueberry Boy ran such a good race at Leopardstown over Christmas when only giving best to Mr Nosie in a Grade Two and, even though Drunken Disorderly gets 6lb from the top two, Mounthenry still looks good.
Good Thyne Jack won twice at the track over Christmas and judged by his nine-length win on the last day of the festival he might be able to defy a hike in the ratings in the second handicap hurdle. The first could go to Golden Domer whose best form seems to be on this course.
Johnny Murtagh has abandoned plans to ride full time in Dubai and will commute between commitments for Michael Halford and the Middle East.
Today he rides Dooneen in the opener but Barry Geraghty looks the man to side with in this courtesy of Proper Article whose run behind Vox Populi at Leopardstown wasn't bad at all.
