Limerick starts its own four-day Christmas fixture with a notable visitor on the first day, top flat jockey Richard Hughes. It's a significant trip for Hughes and could be even more significant should he guide Runabout to success in the Bank Of Ireland Handicap Hurdle. This gelding is on a hat-trick, having won at Listowel and Tipperary, and although Runabout hasn't raced since mid-October, he does look the one to beat.
For one thing, Runabout will not be in any way inconvenienced by very soft ground and in his new jockey looks to have the ideal partner. Runabout has appeared to thrive on arriving on the scene as late a possible in his races and Hughes, recently back in Europe from an unlucky spell in Hong Kong, is a stylish jockey who relishes such challenges.
An ideal example of that was Cockney Lad's win in last season's Irish Champion Hurdle when one of Hughes's occasional forays over flights paid off in style. Runabout is no Cockney Lad but should be up to beating the rather frustrating Ballyrihy Lad. The feature contest is the £10,000 Murphys Irish Stout Chase, where the tough Private Peace is hard to oppose. Aidan O'Brien's seven-year-old has been a busy and classy performer over fences this season, and although lucky to win at Fairyhouse when Hill Society and Irish Breeze fell at the penultimate fence, his overall form looks the best here and he can be a valuable winner for new jockey Terry Mitchell.
The Lane Daly Hurdle features a small but talented field, headed by Kilspindie and Strontium. The ratings suggest Kilspindie is just the better, but he hasn't run in almost a year and preference is for Strontium, who has been taking on decent opposition recently and holding his own. Eugene O'Sullivan sends Excuse Me Sir for the maiden hurdle and, on this ground, the four-year-old looks worth persevering with. The going can never be too soft for Excuse Me Sir,whose long-term future is definitely over fences and he should be able to thrive on the likely surface. By Charlie Allen is one of a team of handy flat performers being sent over hurdles by Pat Flynn and will be a danger, as will Gran Turismo, but Excuse Me Sir could adapt to the conditions better.
Donie Hassett has campaigned Bypharbeanri very astutely and looks to have found her another winning opportunity in the St Stephen's Day Handicap Hurdle. Bypharbeanri always looked in control when dominating at Thurles on her last appearance and should be up doing the same against the likes of Magical Way and Be My Folly. Patrickswell trainer Michael Hourigan will be anxious to have another winner at his local track and Another Point could be the ammunition in the handicap chase; while Cnocan Glas ran well enough in third in a good bumper at Navan last Saturday to suggest he has the winning of the last.
Top amateur rider Philip Fenton can make the St Stephens' Day trek from his Co. Tipperary home to Down Royal pay off in some style with a treble. Fenton rides Balawhar in the Beginners Chase, and while the Michael Tabor-owned gelding has not emerged as the sort of talent he promised to be as a young hurdler, he should still have more than enough ability to beat a less than inspiring field.
Certainly, there was a lot to like about the way Balawhar raced so prominently at Navan earlier in the month when a nine-length runner-up to the smart Eton Gale.
