GYTO Sunday Notebook Double

A big field for this and it does look competitive but I’m really keen on SENIOR CHIEF for Henry de Bromhead. This six-year-old caught the eye finishing second to Monbeg Park in a bumper at Cork and ran a really pleasing race on debut over hurdles when runner-up at Clonmel back in November. He was just a bit clumsy two out which cost him a bit of momentum and then pecked on landing over the last which certainly wouldn’t have helped.

I expect him to jump more fluently here and he brings a lot of potential to the table. I just think he found things happening a bit too quickly so going up to two and a half now should really suit and I want to keep him on side. Quirke’s Gate beat all bar Hunters Yarn at Naas last month and we obviously know that is good form so if he improves he looks to be the obvious danger.

The progressive HARD IRON is on a real roll at present and I think he can bring up the four-timer at Musselburgh on Sunday. He won twice at Ayr before moving up in trip and looked impressive at Catterick last time. He is thoroughly unexposed over this trip and a 7lb rise doesn’t look enough to anchor him here. He isn’t the only one coming here with confidence high though so Faithfulflyer is expected to put up some resistance. #

He has won two of his last three for Sandy Thomson and up 7lb too should make a race of it back up in trip. I do think the pair will dominate but Lock Down Luke looked like he was going to win at Kelso on Friday before being picked off late by an improver. If he takes his chance he will likely run well but again I think he might prove a touch vulnerable in the closing stages.