Those who believe Florida Pearl to be the Irish banker of the Cheltenham festival will expect nothing else but encouragement when Boss Doyle goes in tomorrow's EBF Novices Handicap Chase at Fairyhouse. Despite carrying 12st, the weights are in Boss Doyle's favour as is the consideration that none of his opposition looks remotely capable of putting in the sort of effort that Boss Doyle did against the SunAlliance Chase favourite at Leopardstown three weeks ago.
Florida Pearl had to be driven right out to beat Boss Doyle by a length over a distance that was possible more in his favour than the runner-up's. That is absolutely top-class novice form and Tony McCoy's trip to Fairyhouse to ride Boss Doyle should be both successful and uneventful.
Boss Doyle will be at prohibitive odds, however, and in search of a value nap, we come to Windy Bee in the Sutherland River Handicap Hurdle.
The Brian Nolan-trained mare was a good winner over Afarka and Boro Bow in the final of the Tattersalls Championship Final at the Fairyhouse festival last Easter, and put in an encouraging effort at Gowran last weekend when third to Like A Lion and Lite N Easy. Windy Bee should come on for that effort, and with Moscow Express at the top of the handicap, she looks to have a winning weight.
No rider has been in better recent form than Ruby Walsh, and he can chalk up another couple of winners tomorrow.
Walsh rides Lucky Town for Enda Bolger in the Hurley River Hunters Chase, and Lucky Town is preferred to both Stay In Touch and Wilbar. The trio met over this course and distance last month and provided a thriller. Two lengths covered them at the finish, with Wilbar providing a surprise at 20 to 1. He proved that to have been no fluke at Leopardstown subsequently, but on better ground and with a pull at the weights, Lucky Town can reverse the form in what could be another thriller.
Walsh's mount in the maiden hurde, Tory Bush, is turning into a frustrating character but he looks worth another chance in what is hardly a strong maiden. The ex-hunter, Bob Treacy, carries Tom Treacy on his back in the Tom Dreaper Handicap Chase, and even with top weight, will be hard to beat.
The distance will be no problem and judged by a 10-lengths defeat of Buckminster at Gowran Park last month, Bob Treacy is in good form for a contest, where Jimmy The Weed looks the biggest danger.
