The Christmas wind-up at Leopardstown may not produce particularly profitable winners but, for the future, the performances of Istabraq and Florida Pearl, in particular, should be enlightening.
Istabraq should have little more than a good work out in the AIB December Festival Hurdle. On what we have seen of this exceptionally talented performer so far, a bloodless success over four rivals looks likely, especially on this very soft ground and with the race likely to be run to suit him.
The headstrong Punting Pete is likely to set off in front and make it a good pace, off which Charlie Swan can sit on Istabraq. If anything is likely to make a race of it with him, however, it looks like being Lady Daisy. A fine handicapper she may be, but it will be a severe shock to the Champion Hurdle market if Lady Daisy makes a dent in Istabraq's reputation.
In contrast, Florida Pearl is unproven in his new occupation, but his potential is quite enormous. He should begin to build on that potential in the Farming Independent Beginners Chase.
Nobody who saw the Willie Mullins-trained five-year-old sprint up the hill at Cheltenham last March in the Festival Bumper could question the raw ability of the horse, and the reports of his schooling sessions have been progressively better and better.
Florida Pearl's jumping will have to be in good order because there are a number of decent prospects in today's race. Arthur Moore's pair of Heavy Hustler and, in particular, Pat Hartigan could turn out to be useful but Florida Pearl is expected to jump adequately and win first time of asking.
It could be a day for the favourites and, in particular, Walt in the Masterform Nutrition Flat Race. Noel Meade's horse was fancied to win at Navan the Saturday before Christmas but came up against a horse even more fancied, to judge by the market, as Sunset Creek got home ahead.
It was still a commendable effort by Walt, and although there are a number of unexposed animals in opposition today, the seven-year-old looks set to have his turn.
Another animal who was fancied to run well last time was Verrazano Bridge, but Tom Taaffe's charge was contesting quite a hot contest at Fairyhouse and eventually tired to finish sixth to Feathered Leader. The form of that race has taken some knocks but, even so, Verrazano Bridge is clearly decent and is selected in the opening maiden hurdle.
Mariners Reef is another horse that ran at Navan before Christmas, and she put in a fine display to win a maiden over two miles on very heavy ground as she liked.
Michael McCullagh sends her for the SAP Group Handicap Hurdle, and although Alotawanna will be a tough nut to crack, Mariners Reef's performance in the mud at Navan was very impressive and she is preferred.
Cochis Run put in an eye-catching effort, also at Navan, to run fourth to Native Estates, and Pat Flynn's gelding is the pick in the last; while Shuil Na Mhuire can take the Tegral Handicap Chase.
Go-Informal will bid to bounce back to form in the Unicoin Homes Spa Hurdle at Cheltenham on Thursday, when Stayers' Hurdle winner Karshi is a possible opponent. The gelding, who won the Mitsubishi Mobile Phones Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury on Hennessy day, was well held in fourth behind Paddy's Return at Ascot last time.
