Charlie Swan celebrated his 30th birthday yesterday and the eight-times champion jockey can get a belated present when he goes north to Down Royal this afternoon principally to ride three for Michael Hourigan.
Rosetown Girl, Don't Waste It and Zaffaran Run all hold obvious chances should the track survive a 7.00 a.m. precautionary inspection but it's the latter that can make Swan's sortie worthwhile.
As mares maiden hurdles go, today's is not a bad contest at all but Zaffaran Run's claims look solid. Considering her bumper reputation, it's something of a surprise that the six-year-old is still a maiden over flights but that looked set to change at Limerick over Christmas when she looked to have her field cold approaching the last.
Unfortunately Zaffaran Run blundered and unseated her rider leaving Go Go Henry to go on and win but it proved that Zaffaran Run's previous fifth at 33 to 1 to Feathered Leader in a Grade One race at Fairyhouse was not a fluke.
Zaffaran Run's overall form makes her an assured hurdles winner and it will be something of a surprise if it's not today. However, it may be unwise to dismiss Fine De Claire's chance on this heavy ground. Considering she dead heated with Promalee in a Punchestown bumper last February, it's also something of a surprise that Fine De Claire hasn't won since but her fifth to Cliffs Of Dooneen at Naas last time suggests she will give Zaffaran Run most to do.
Don't Waste It won two long-distance hurdles impressively at Limerick and Fairyhouse before finding Section Seven just too good at Leopardstown 11 days ago. Clearly in good form, the mare will take beating in the East Down Trainers Novice Chase but stamina is her forte and over two and a half miles, Heavy Hustler is just preferred.
Arthur Moore's string have been in superb form and although Heavy Hustler was a long way off Florida Pearl at Leopardstown, he is a decent prospect judged on a previous six-length defeat of Moondigua and the aforementioned Section Seven in a hurdle at Naas.
Rosetown Girl is another consistent sort who goes in the Anglo Printers Handicap Hurdle but Swan's mount faces a couple of dangerous opponents in Speed Board and Star Trix. Speed Board ran a good second to Don't Waste It at Fairyhouse but could prefer a longer trip and slight preference is for Star Trix.
