MICHAEL HOURIGAN is the most successful trainer currently racing at Kilbeggan and the Patrickswell handler can make the long journey to Westmeath worthwhile yet again when I Remember It Well makes a quick reappearance in this evening's Glynn Memorial Handicap Hurdle.
It was only on Saturday that I Remember It Well was out, running on well after being headed at the two furlong marker, to finish a three length second to She'll Be Good in a handicap at Clonmel. Before that she had started favourite for a nine furlong flat handicap at Ballinrobe only to disappoint slightly in fifth behind Eloquent Way.
Despite that I Remember It Well is clearly a mare with her share of talent and it's surely significant that the shrewd Hourigan is pulling her out again so quickly. The main danger may come from fellow Limerick trainer Enda Bolger whose Legitman has been in sparkling form recently, winning a maiden here last month and following up in a Tralee handicap.
However, this looks to be a slightly stiffer assignment and Legitman could have to give best to I Remember It Well and her very promising young pilot, Paul Hourigan.
Those same Hourigans will also be fancying their chances with Fair Society in the McHugh Handicap Hurdle but this is a contest where they may have to give best to Tommy Treacy's mount Flying In The Gale.
There was a lot to like about the way this mare spread-eagled a reasonable field of handicappers at Tralee at the start of the month and although today's race is over half a mile further, there was no evidence of Flying In The Gale stopping at the end of her Tralee race where she put three lengths between herself and Annaelaine.
Richard Dunwoody has been making a few headlines recently with his exploits in the motor racing game but the acknowledged master of guiding racehorses over obstacles can return to his roots with a winner courtesy of Edward O'Grady's Dunferne Classic in the Bank Of Ireland Maiden Hurdle.
Dunferne Classic started a well backed favourite to win a qualified riders race at Leopardstown last time but was caught for pace at an important stage of that contest and eventually stayed on to be fourth to the smart Frau Dante.
Before that Dunferne Classic had beaten Padashpan in a two mile flat handicap at Killarney and all the indications are that he will be favoured by the distance of today's race. Charlie Swan and Phareign will be dangerous opponents but Dunferne Classic and Dunwoody are preferred.
Strong Boost showed enough on his comeback in Roscommon behind Saving Bond to suggest he should be up to winning a poor looking Beginners Chase for Jason Titley. That Roscommon effort was Strong Boost's first race since October and improvement should be expected.
Philip Fenton rode Digital Signal into third behind Darsarak at Ballinrobe last time but this horse could be worth another chance in the bumper, while Jacky Flynn caught more than one eye in his last race at Navan and should be well suited by the three miles of the T&V Maiden Hurdle.
Double Trigger is on course for his bid to regain the stayers crown he lost to Classic Cliche last year in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot.
The six-year-old will be joined in the line-up on Thursday by his full brother Double Eclipse, who has been plagued with leg trouble since winning at Longchamp in May last year.
"Up to today both Double Trigger and Double Eclipse are bang on target for the Gold Cup," trainer Mark Johnston said yesterday. "But we still have four days to go.
"We won't know exactly how Eclipse's legs will be affected until he actually has a race but he has been startlingly impressive on the gallops.
"Whereas Trigger is a very deceptive horse. He has big, long stride and gives the impression he isn't going very fast.
"They worked yesterday and Eclipse worked tremendously well."
