Willie Mullins
sends the top-rated Analifet to
Doncaster
for a Grade Two hurdle where Ruby Walsh will hope to maintain his unbeaten record on the Gigginstown Stud-owned mare.
Michael O'Leary's retained jockey Bryan Cooper stays at home instead for three rides at Navan, which include Marinero for his boss.
Walsh won on Analifet on her first two starts for Mullins in 2013 but appears to face quite a task to maintain that record now as she has raced very keenly on both starts since returning to action after a pelvic injury, and crashed out behind Carrigmoorna Rock over Christmas last time.
A repeat of those keen tendencies could see Irish hopes ultimately winding up with Princess Leya, third in that Leopardstown race, who may relish the drop back to two miles in the OLBG Hurdle, a race won by Annie Power last year. Other Irish interest at Doncaster will centre on Stuart Crawford’s Yes Tom in the Skybet Chase but 10 minutes prior to that the Co Antrim trainer will be focused on Gilt Shadow’s return to action at Navan.
The former high-class bumper performer looks to have the Cooper-ridden Apache Jack to beat, although Gilt Shadow won both his bumper and maiden hurdle first-time out.
Navan’s handicap hurdle looks a very ordinary contest but one of the bottomweights, Travel Ogue, did win a point to point just over three weeks ago and has some reasonable bumper form too.
