Lady can bring hurdles form to the flat

Today's home action is at Roscommon where the old team of Pat Smullen and Joanna Morgan can land the mile-and-a-half handicap…

Today's home action is at Roscommon where the old team of Pat Smullen and Joanna Morgan can land the mile-and-a-half handicap with the rejuvenated Katcharto Lady.

As befits a mare with a rating of 42, the Morgan-trained runner has been no great shakes on the level but she has impressed in two hurdles victories recently at Punchestown and Clonmel and if she can translate that form to the flat she has the weight to win.

Romeo's On Fire's 85 rating sets the standard in the opening seven-furlong maiden but Ger Lyons picked up that mark last year and maybe Tibetan Dragon can use his race sharpness to good effect for the in-form David Wachman-Wayne Lordan team.

Nina Carberry travels for the bumper ride on Big Syd and this one's Kilbeggan debut, when only finding Uncle Junior too good, should be good enough while Tuatha de Danann can defy a 8lb penalty for winning at Punchestown in the handicap chase.

Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor is the racing correspondent of The Irish Times. He also writes the Tipping Point column