03-05-2025
JP McManus can score in Canal End to round out week
The National Hunt season wraps up this afternoon at Fairyhouse and owner JP McManus, who has enjoyed plenty of success this week, can put another on the board for good measure when Canal End contests the Palmerstown House Estate Pat Taaffe Handicap Chase.
Peter Fahey's horse struck form with a vengeance when asserting late to win a novice handicap chase in mid-March, and while he is 9lbs higher this time, he looks well treated and can prove it by following up.
Majestic Force is also unexposed, has good form which ties in with subsequent Grade One winner Spindleberry and, off an appealing mark of just 126, is a genuine danger to the selection.
The SBK Irish EBF Mares' Champion Hurdle looks like a match between Brighterdaysahead and Jade De Grugy and while the end-of-season nature of the race could result in a small upset, the former sets the standard on all know form and can use the opportunity to erase the memory of her Champion Hurdle disappointment at Cheltenham.
She is not at her best going right-handed but was classy enough to win at this course in November, when getting the better of State Man in the Morgiana, and running close to that level will see her home in front once more.
Jade De Grugy made a belated seasonal debut in February at this venue and then finished runner-up to Lossiemouth in the Mares' Hurdle at Cheltenham, where she tried to make all the running.
She was no match whatsoever for the winner but stayed on well enough to hold second place behind her stablemate. She ought to be fresh for this assignment, and while she has 14lbs to find with the favourite on official ratings, expect it to be much closer than that might suggest.
On Sunday in Sligo, Eddie & Patrick Harty can take the opener, a six-furlong maiden, with Wait For It. Dropping back from seven furlongs will be a help to the strong-travelling sort, and she can build on the promise of her two runs by making it third time lucky.
Tommy Lyons' picks
PUNCHESTOWN
2:30 Conflated
3:05 Your Own Story
3:42 Brighterdaysahead
4:15 Canal End (nap)
4:50 Lulamba (nb)
5:25 Kalix Delabarriere
6:00 Panjandrum
6:35 Jungle Cove
Next best
2:30 Stealthy Tom
3:05 From The Ashes
3:42 Jade De Grugy
4:15 Majestic Force
4:50 Poniros
5:25 Raglan Road
6:00 It's Only A Game
6:35 Dark Note
SLIGO
1:35 Wait For It (nap)
2:10 Ceo Stealth Mode
2:45 Spirit Of Eagles
3:20 Dumb Love
3:55 Carried With Love
4:30 Grizabella (nb)
5:05 Bint Majestic Roi
Next best
1:35 Vanderbilt House
2:10 Chester Nimitz
2:45 Dark Enigma
3:20 Makaiah
3:55 Beset
4:30 Kartayaz
5:05 Ribee
