Sport

Perrone can fizz to victory

BLAIR Perrone has his sights lowered significantly for the Rated Novice Hurdle at Gowran Park this afternoon.

Since claiming the scalp of last year's Champion Bumper hero Silver Concorde at Leopardstown's Christmas meeting, Tony Martin's six-year-old has found life tougher.

He was outclassed when finishing down the field in a Punchestown Grade Two won by Douvan, and again found himself out of his depth behind Nichols Canyon in the Deloitte at Leopardstown.

He faces nothing of that calibre on his return to the fray here, although Domesday Book was close behind him in that Punchestown contest and looks the primary threat.

Killer Crow represents Willie Mullins but he was only sixth in the Navan Grade One won by stablemate McKinley, with Golden Boot seventh and last.

The latter now drops in class for the two-and-a-half-mile maiden hurdle.

Golden Boot looked a bit unlucky in a subsequent Naas race won by Captain Von Trappe and has little in hand over the third and fourth that day, Star Counsel and Voisey's Bay, both of whom will come on.

This will be Golden Boot's fifth attempt in maiden company and, even with Ruby Walsh taking over. there'll be plenty willing to oppose him.

Prince Of Lombardy provided Jim Culloty with his last winner under Rules in a Thurles maiden hurdle a year ago and appears for the first time since in the two-and-a-half-mile handicap hurdle.

I like the look of Clonmel winner Jimmy Two Times, unlucky at Leopardstown when falling at the last flight when still a couple of lengths to the good.

Reassessed and 5lb higher, he ran a good third at Fairyhouse in February behind Rightdownthemiddle and Flaming Dawn and might reverse placings with the second here.

Bonny Kate lacked acceleration at the business end over two miles on her jumping debut at Leopardstown, but Noel Meade's bumper winner goes half-a-mile further in the opening maiden hurdle and will appreciate the drop in class.

Chitter Chatter and St Peter's Square are two that might press her.

Patanne wasn't far behind the 140-rated The Game Changer in a Cork bumper in March 2013 when a beaten favourite, and although not sighted since, the champion trainer should have got plenty of work into him ahead his reappearance.

Casual Approach and Whispering Storm are another pair of interest.

Things haven't gone to plan for Feenakilmeedy since she chased Gitane Du Berlais home at Limerick late last year, but she won't find many easier opportunities to boost her confidence than the mares' beginners chase.

In the handicap chase, Loch Dara makes appeal. He found trouble on landing over the second-last and unseated when still holding some sort of chance in the race won by Miss Xian at Naas last month.

Sacre Malta ran quite well when third behind Moss Grove at Limerick earlier in the week and might reverse the form with that winner.