Willie Mullins has landed six of the last 10 runnings of the BoyleSports Handicap Hurdle at Galway and Power Of Pause may prove the pick of his seven-strong brigade in the €110,000 contest this year.
The Doyen gelding was a smart novice a few years ago and having spent almost two years on the sidelines he disappointed on his first two outings after returning before a much better run at Ballinrobe in late May.
A step up to two-miles-six then probably helped the eight-year-old and he was staying on nicely at the end when chasing home Lunar Power.
He was wide enough on the tight home bend then and did well to finish off the way he did considering that he had to come around rivals going to the last flight.
Off just a pound higher mark, there looks to be a nice prize in the chestnut and he can make up for lost time.
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It’s hard to rule out any of the Mullins runners in these sort of handicaps and the weights are headed by a smart mare in Finest Evermore.
She returns from a lengthy enough absence herself having won at Killarney last August. The Yeats mare is still relatively unexposed, after just eight runs, and has to be respected despite giving weight away to her rivals.
The John Ryan-trained Lucid Dreams comes into the race in fine form and should appreciate going back up in trip now having gone down by half-a-length to Williamstowndancer over the minimum trip at Roscommon last time.
He had won his previous two outings, including over almost two-miles-five at Roscommon, and there could be further improvement to come.
It looks significant, though, that Paul Townend has sided with Power Of Pause and he gets the vote in another fiercely competitive contest here this week.
Mullins can also collect in the opening maiden hurdle with Rath Gaul Boy.
The Well Chosen gelding kept very good company in bumpers and was last seen in the Grade One contest at Punchestown.
He made little impression behind A Dream To Share then but that was his first run in 11 months and he had chased home the top performer at Tipperary back in May 2022.
This looks a nice starting point over timber for him and he already has jumps experience having won a point-to-point.
The Twelve Pins looks another obvious one for Mullins in the concluding bumper.
The Beat Hollow gelding was just denied at the festival last year by This Songisforyou, who was third in a Flat maiden here on Wednesday and is due to run in the opening maiden hurdle.
Only four go to post in the seven-furlong nursery on the card and David Marnane’s Jakajaro may be able to strike again in handicap company.
He was very impressive when scoring at the Curragh a fortnight ago and got a 12lb hike as a result of that performance. Connections think a lot of the Too Darn Hot colt and he could still be on a nice mark despite that rise.
In the preceding mile maiden the well-bred Simpson’s Paradox may be able to get off the mark.
He’s never going to live up to his pedigree, as a full-brother to the brilliant Alpha Centauri, but was a solid second in a Killarney maiden last month and a similar effort may be enough to get his head in front now.
SELECTIONS
1.55 Rath Gaul Boy
2.30 Power Of Pause (Nap)
3.05 Navy Seal
3.40 Simpson’s Paradox
4.15 Jakajaro (Dbl)
4.50 Dragon of Malta
5.25 Mon Coeur
5.55 The Twelve Pins
