Desperandum can go the distance

Racing: Nil Desperandum, who missed out on an intended chasing debut at Navan last weekend, has side-stepped tomorrow's Grade…

Racing: Nil Desperandum, who missed out on an intended chasing debut at Navan last weekend, has side-stepped tomorrow's Grade Three Irish Field Chase and can reward the move with a success this afternoon.

After finishing sixth in last season's SunAlliance Hurdle he will find the two and a half mile distance of the Beginners Chase at the minimum of his range but Nil Desperandum looks to be a smart recruit and the presence of Central House looks like it could make him a value bet over that trip.

The Liverpool winner Leinster, on the other hand, is dropped to two miles for his reappearance in the conditions hurdle and, as if that wasn't enough, he also has the Cork winner Kahuna in opposition.

Kahuna earned a 20 to 1 SunAlliance quote after his jumping debut and his hurdling technique should be a lot sharper for that experience.

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Noel Meade gives Dizzy's Dream his own hurdling kick-off in the first and this horse is a progressive sort who should be well up to winning this race.

Considering he was only broken in in August of last year, he did remarkably well to make it to the Cheltenham bumper last season.

Jirlan's 6lb penalty for winning at Fairyhouse on Wednesday sets the Moore runner-up ideally up at the bottom of the weights in the handicap hurdle.

Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor

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