Bosco can make winning start over hurdles

Punchestown is the focus of our attention for the next two days, and the nap on this afternoon’s good card goes to Bosco Di Alco, in the www.Coral.ie Maiden Hurdle. 

Bosco can make winning start over hurdles

Unplaced in his only point to point, he made a very promising start to his track career when fifth behind No Comment in a hot bumper at the Punchestown festival.

The five-year-old duly built on that effort when winning on his next start, at Down Royal.

That race has worked out quite well, with third-placed Blue Empyrean winning a bumper, fourth-placed Polar Present landing a bumper and mares’ maiden hurdle, and fifth-placed Red Giant winning a maiden hurdle and a novice event.

While his trainer, Liz Doyle, mentioned that Bosco Di Alco was very high over his fences in his point to point, he has been given plenty of time to work on his technique over obstacles, and this very promising sort can make a winning debut over hurdles.

The most obvious danger is Fire In His Eyes, who won a Wexford bumper for Tony Martin, but ran disappointingly when behind Koshari in a novice hurdle at Punchestown.

This is considerably easier, and he has since returned to Gordon Elliott. A good run looks assured, but Bosco Di Alco is preferred.

Zig Zag can take the opening race, the Coral.ie 3-Y-O Maiden Hurdle, for trainer Joseph O’Brien.

On his most recent run, when third behind stablemate Lord Justice, he finished a neck behind one of today’s rivals, Masonbrook Lady, but there are solid reasons to believe he can reverse that form.

Masonbrook Lady was allowed a soft lead that day and, under a clever ride from Denis Hogan, almost stole the race. Zig Zag was first to go in chase of that rival and looked to have a real say in the outcome until stumbling badly at the back of the last.

While it may not have cost him the win, it certainly cost him second place, and he can prove to this time.

While he wasn’t easy to win with on the flat, this looks a good opportunity to get off the mark over timber.

Champagne Pat has something to find with the selection on their Ballinrobe meeting, but he can improve, and should reach the frame.

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