Given that there is a Jackpot carry-over in excess of £16,000 at Wexford this evening, the original order of running was surely more "punter friendly" than that which now faces pot-hunters.
The 13-runner Datapac Hurdle, a conditions event, was originally the first leg but this has been transposed with the 15-runner Carlsberg Lager Handicap Chase, a contest where there are far more "possible" winners.
However, it could turn out that Viking Buoy, now six years of age, is improving faster than the handicapper credits and I nap him to complete his hat-trick.
It is likely though that the top of the market Marsul will start at shorter odds in the Datapac Hurdle. He cost Hamdan Al Maktoum £285,000 and having earned his keep with two wins he was sold off at a sizeable capital loss.
There was a big tip for him on his Irish debut over hurdles at Naas and he opened up the 5 to 4 favourite but drifted to 3 to 1. The inspiration behind the early odds was demonstrated when on his second outing at Naas, he improved considerably to finish a close fourth to Krosno.
Charlie Swan will be anxious to find a race for Lewisham which he trains for J P McManus but I don't see him successfully conceding more than a stone to Marsul.
The Stafford family has enjoyed a lengthy association with Wexford and Our Weathercock carrying these racing silks would be a highly popular last race winner. He ran at Bellewstown last week and finished third to the well-supported Townleyhall.
In the final Jackpot leg, punters making their entries early in the evening may well be teased by the choice between the top weight Kate Emily, who has won her last three races, and Loyal Deed who has not troubled the judge nor race-readers for that matter in three runs to date.
The handicapper has, however, lifted Kate Emily considerably whereas this is a different distance and ground for Loyal Deed whose trainer does so well on this circuit with three-year-olds.
Simple Dolly has been a profitable money-spinner in bumpers and could win at first time of asking over jumps.
