GORDON Elliott can bag a couple of winners early on the card down in Limerick on Thursday.
Media Naranja looks to have obvious claims in the opening fillies maiden hurdle after a couple of good runs over timber.
The Yeats filly was fourth on her debut at Gowran and went to post a solid 6/4 favourite to open her account subsequently at Navan.
After travelling well to lead at the second last she was strongly pressed from the final flight by Grappa Nonino and just lost out by the narrowest of margins at the line to that more experienced rival.
This looks a nice opportunity against her own sex now to gain a deserved victory and Corey McGivern taking 7lb off her back leaves her on a nice weight.
Libby is the obvious danger in the field having also been runner-up on her last outing.
The Highland Reel filly was also beaten favourite last time when chasing home surprise winner Kuruma Grey at Gowran Park.
That was her fifth outing over hurdles and while she has some solid form she probably doesn’t have the same scope for improvement as Media Naranja.
In the following two-mile-five maiden So Des Flos is another with a big shout for the Cullentra operation.
He also comes into this race with solid placed form in the book and was just pipped when a short price on his penultimate start at Fairyhouse.
The Joshua Tree gelding has since been a decent third to Franciscan Rock at Thurles and a repeat of either showing would make him hard to beat.
Later on the card Coventry is another for Elliott that has a chance.
The Galileo gelding was a faller on his last start at Thurles and it was too early to say how he would have fared.
He looks on a competitive mark on the pick of his form and with McGivern taking 7lb off he’s nicely in the mix in a slightly less competitive race than he has been running in.
The bumper on the card could be interesting with wide-margin point-to-point winner Bioluminescence making her ‘track debut, now in the colours of JP McManus.
Gavin Cromwell’s charge won in some style at Boulta in November and Derek O’Connor takes the mount again on the Walk In The Park filly.
Willie Mullins introduces Masked Marvel newcomer Junta Marvel and market support for her would be significant.
GARY CARSON'S LIMERICK SELECTIONS
(next best in brackets)
1.40 Media Naranja (dbl) (Libby)
2.15 So Des Flos (nap) (Potters Party)
2.50 Thetys (Royal Rhythm)
3.25 Kate Ill Know (Young Fitzy)
4.00 Coventry (Vinnie Is Busy)
4.35 Holiday In Kerry (Merry Moves)
5.10 Bioluminescence (Junta Marvel)
