RACING: Barry Geraghty has enough ammunition with four rides at Limerick today to achieve a century of winners for the first time in his career.
The season's leading rider hit the 97-winner mark for the season when Newmill was successful at Naas on Sunday and it looks only a matter of time before Geraghty smashes through the 100 mark for the first time.
Whether or not it happens today is debatable with The Mighty Sparrow lumbered with topweight in the handicap hurdle and Deauville up against some smart types in the novice hurdle.
Geraghty is on Leanardo Da Vinci in the opening maiden hurdle but the Edward O'Grady-trained looks to have it all to do against Diego Garcia and the smart flat operator Definate Spectacle. The latter ran off 102 in his last outing but preference is for Diego Garcia who should improve for his length second to stable mate Raikkonen at Gowran Park.
Pelican Brief is consistent but looks a suitable benchmark for the newcomer C'est Fantastique in the Beginners Chase. Davy Russell's mount was 26 lengths off the high-class Mariah Rollins at Leopardstown and is already a hurdles winner this season at Punchestown.
Back In Front won the novice hurdle last season en route to a sparkling success in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham. There's unlikely to be something of a similar standard today but it's still a competitive heat with the Cork winner Revue and Deauville representing a real threat to Dizzy's Dream. The Noel Meade horse was an unlikely winner at Fairyhouse when coming from well back to beat Tiger Cry by four lengths.
Drying ground would be a big plus for Farranfore in the bumper but an obvious threat is the Willie Mullins newcomer Our Ben who is owned by Trevor Hemmings.
