Aidan O'Brien's sister-in-law Frances Crowley, who took out her trainer's licence to coincide with the start of the 1998/99 National Hunt season, has got off to a flyer.
Not only is she currently topping the National Hunt table but she has also taken up a good placing in the flat list when you realise that she has given her rivals half a season's start at that side of the sport.
The abandonment of Sligo yesterday may also have played her way, for her intended bumper runner, Absolute Power, might have met his match there in the Dundalk-trained Paircin.
She has now switched Absolute Power to Dundalk and there is nothing in the bumper here that has the form to match Paircin. The four-year-old ran well in all three starts earlier in the year and in particular his Killarney May meeting performance where he was Aidan O'Brien's 14 to 1 outsider of two and finished second to his 5 to 1 stablemate Chapparal Lady.
Back in third place that day was The Anner Boy and that race has worked out well with both first and third scoring since.
A horse's fortunes can be transformed radically in the space of a few days. Take Misniuil as a case in point. He was competing for a first prize of £73,500 at the Curragh on Saturday. Today not only will the winner take home a mere £2,234 but the Mullacrew being a claiming race Misniuil can be claimed for £9,000.
From a hopless draw he ran well enough for 5f behind the leaders on the far side and now looks as if he will be hard to beat.
Castleross is the handicapper's tip for the Riverstown Maiden but his chance would be assisted by overnight rain. In the meantime Khaliandak would win most Dundalk maidens on his short head defeat at Leopardstown by Royal Dane.
The handicaps look as difficult as ever but if New Legislation can get into gear earlier in the Knockbridge Handicap than was the case at Tralee, he would be hard to beat.
Then competing over a furlong shorter trip he was back in the rear with just over two furlongs to go but put in a strong final kick to take third place to Willyever.
