Bonbon Au Miel tries to confirm the promise of his Irish debut when he goes to post for the €20,000 UCC Horse Racing Society Hurdle at Cork on Thursday.
Willie Mullins’ French recruit hadn’t been seen in action for well over two years but offered plenty of encouragement for the future when beating all bar Hidden Cyclone at Leopardstown earlier this month, having looked the most likely winner jumping the last before fitness told.
That outing is expected to have brought him on and this Fontainebleau winner as a three-year-old hurdler is unpenalised here.
He takes on another returning from a lengthy absence in the shape of Flaxen Flare.
This Gordon Elliott-trained eight-year-old was a Cheltenham Festival winner in 2013 but has been off the track since making a successful start to his chasing career at Down Royal in May 2015. A 148-rated performer over hurdles in the past, he has to be the danger to Bonbon Au Miel here.
Elliott is happy for Leomar to make a swift reappearance in the opening maiden hurdle, only beaten a head by shock winner Delface at Wexford on St Patrick’s Day, with the
re-opposing Shes Flat Tothemat three-and-a-half lengths back in fourth place.
Westerner Point reverts to the smaller obstacles at this meeting, which doesn’t stage any chases, and is out to stay on his upward curve in the 80-95 three-mile handicap hurdle.
Eoghan O’Grady has successfully mixed chasing and hurdling with his charge this campaign and his mark in this sphere is 29lb lower than his figure over fences. Vinnie Luck, third here behind Indian Monsoon and Veinard in January, and Rue Hill are the pair he has to beat.
Pat Doyle’s Kaiser Black dealt with all bar Wishmoor at Leopardstown at the start of the month and is set to go one better in the two-and-a-half-mile maiden hurdle. Ruby Walsh rode him on that occasion but Davy Russell steps in for the mount now.
The one to beat is probably Elliott’s Berry Des Aulmes, providing he can bounce back from a very lacklustre Clonmel performance in early February when pulled up in the race won by Ask Nile. The Clonmel stewards failed to make public any explanation, sought or received.
Coole Craft burst back into life when scoring recently at Thurles and has a 5lb higher rating to contend with in the 80-95 handicap hurdle.
Fiesole ran in the same race and was challenging when falling at the last. Eoin Doyle’s top weight now meets Coole Craft on 4lb better terms, which might be just enough to gain revenge.
The amateur riders’ handicap hurdle might see Conor Cross emerge on top, possibly at the expense of last weekend’s Limerick runner-up Lets High Five It.
Elliott’s Back Bar was set to win his second start between the flags prior to an unseat, and following a promising second on last month’s bumper debut at Thurles when beaten two-and-a-quarter lengths by Planet Nine, is confidently selected to go one better.
Banno and Cluan Dara may fight it out for minor honours.
