As sure a sign of approaching summer is the first Monday Roscommon fixture of the year, and punters should be able to get off to a winning start. Dee-One-O-One will be hard to beat in the opening 12-furlong maiden but half an hour later Experimental looks something to bet on in the 12-furlong handicap.
Experimental is attempting a quick follow up after scoring at Clonmel last Thursday. Eddie Ahern gave the five-year-old a decisive ride to beat Bamford Castle by a couple of lengths, and Experimental has just a mandatory 5lb penalty to carry.
That will probably be not enough to stop the selection, who will appreciate any drying out of the ground and is napped ahead of the generally disappointing General Cloney.
Dee-One-O-One's runner-up position to Fashion Project last time out was a decent effort; and many of those chasing the jackpot will be banking on the smart Quinze in the sixth race, the conditions hurdle. Even a disappointing effort behind She's Our Mare in Haydock's Swinton Hurdle cannot disguise that generally, Quinze is in a different class to these.
The jackpot hunters can get off to a good start in the handicap chase with Sea Fisher, who beat Jimmy Dan impressively by nine lengths at Cork and could have too much of a finishing kick for Francoskid, twice a winner at Gowran but stepping back in trip.
Siberian Gale has always been highly regarded and despite not having run since winning at Tipperary in October, he is just preferred in the Hannon Chase; while Strategic Intent, a nearest-at-finish third to Sir Oracle at Dundalk 10 days ago, looks the pick in the opportunity hurdle.
