The £20,000 Elan Midlands National has generated the type of competitive handicap chase that the prize pot deserves but in terms of the best bet of the evening it should pay to turn up early for Dariole.
The form of Dariole's second to Dark Trojan at Dundalk looks pretty good and his fourth to Macabeo at Bellewstown was boosted at Killarney during the week by stable companion Berengarius.
Noel Meade's Pillar Rock is probably better than a fifth to Twin Pack back in May suggests but Dariole looks a good bet to continue Halford's recent good form and land a third jumps win of the year.
Norman Williamson can take the following maiden hurdle on Sabbatical and also cannot be discounted in the feature where he rides the consistent Scallybuck for Michael Hourigan.
The Limerick trainer's track record is encouraging as is some of Scallybuck's recent placed form which gives him a perfectly reasonable "book" chance of landing this.
Frances Crowley had her horses in good form during the Killarney festival and can continue that streak with a possible double courtesy of Kevin O'Ryan's mount Applause in the bumper and King Of Kerry who didn't run too badly behind Sawa-Id at Ballinrobe.
Jockeys are to receive a pay-rise, it was announced yesterday. Flat jockeys' fees will increase by four per cent to £68.17 and their jumps counterparts' fees by three per cent to £93.15.
Also, Flat and jump jockeys will get an extra £18 when they ride on Sundays and an extra £30 when they ride in the following races: Flat - classified stakes graded 0-70 or higher and conditions stakes of class B and C; jumps - novice chases class A, B and C.
