16:50 Friday

Allegorie De Vassy (NAP)

I’m siding with Willie Mullins and Paul Townend in the Grade 2 Mares’ Chase and if the best version of ALLEGORIE DE VASSY turns up then she’ll be very difficult to beat.

The mares division has been tough to predict this season but a return to quicker ground should see the selection to best effect. Her form on yielding or better since moving to Closutton reads 1113 and she’s been kept fresh since the Cheltenham Festival.

Connections opted to go to Fairyhouse with her last year and it was probably a case of one run too many. Stablemate Instit has finished behind her in all four runs this season and I’d be shocked to see that form reversed.

Brides Hill is the main danger but she is hard to assess and Allegorie De Vassy has the rating to prevail. Gavin Cromwell’s have been running well this week though so she goes there with a live chance.

18:35 Friday

Mirazur West W/O Ballyburn

Burn, baby, burn. I can’t wait to see Ballyburn again and I’m expecting him to put on a show before going over fences next season. I know Willie Mullins has mentioned the Champion Hurdle route but he looks like a proper chasing type to my eye.

He ticks every box and it would be foolish to oppose him here. Having said that, the yard have always hoped that MIRAZUR WEST would make into a proper Grade 1 horse and I’m taking him to finish ‘best of the rest’ behind his stablemate.

Described by Patrick Mullins as a “big baby of a horse” earlier in the season, he seems to have improved for racing and I’m expecting him to go from the front. He is quirky but he won his Grade 2 going right handed and he can go well here.

16:15 Friday

Perceval Legallois (WIN)

I really liked PERCEVAL LEGALLOIS for a Cheltenham Festival handicap but he missed that engagement. However, he can make amends in the 2m4f Listed Novice Handicap Chase on Friday.

The word around the water cooler is that he went very well in a schooling race recently and I’m hoping he can give Gavin Cromwell another winner after a solid week.

He has some good form in the book on nice ground and I’m hoping he can get his head in front and then he could be one for Galway. Mister Policeman is an obvious threat given his reputation but he’s let me down before and I’ll leave him at the prices.