Richard Dunwoody will be the biggest drawing card at any of the three low-key May Bank Holiday meetings in Ireland this afternoon. He rides Sigma Comms (2.45), Church Place (3.45) and Wyatt (4.15) in the three races open to professionals at Down Royal. All of them are trained by Noel Meade who had such a good Punchestown and the pick of the trio is surely Church Place.
Considering how well he performed over fences at the final session of the Leopardstown Christmas meeting when he split Sarsfield The Man and Notcompalingbut in a finish in which two lengths covered the trio, it is something of a surprise that he should be still qualified for a beginners chase even one graced with the Governor's Cup.
However, trainers are alert to the desirability of preserving maiden status until after April 30th so as to maximise opportunities in the forthcoming National Hunt season.
Another jockey in the news who is riding at the Northern meeting is David Casey who partnered She's Our Mare to a finely executed victory in the £40,000 Crowther Homes Swinton Handicap Hurdle at Haydock on Saturday. He could continue where he left off by winning the first race on the programme with Windfall Tax who was third here to Davids Lad.
Harry Rogers has double prospects with Joe Bosky (3.15) and Paircin (5.15).
The nap is Provosky at Navan (3.30) as he demonstrated that a very active first season - he ran 11 times for a win and three places - had done him no harm at all by winning a £12,000 handicap at Leopardstown. What was so encouraging about this achievement was that he was one of only two three-year-olds in a 14-runner line-up and yet responding well to pressure and motored on to beat Rainswept by five lengths.
It can de dangerous to draw a conclusion as to what would have happened if the winning favourite had not run. Yet the record book shows that Theatreworld has been second to Istabraq in three consecutive Champion Hurdles. He will be relieved not to find his stablemate taking him on in the European Breeders Fund Race at Naas where he can supplement an already handsome career earnings total.
Conor O'Dwyer could be the jockey with the best double prospects at Navan, partnering The Dell (4.30) and Double Account (5.00).
Frankie Dettori will miss Intikhab's return from injury in the Juddmonte Lockinge Stakes at Newbury on May 15th after receiving a six-day ban for careless riding in the final race at Newmarket yesterday.
