HORSES FOR COURSES by TOM RED Irish racing this weekend starts with The Red Mills Day on at Gowran Park on Saturday and Navan on Sunday where there are 3 Grade 2 races, 2 chases and a hurdle. Charlie Swan’s One Cool Cookie will probably give Ascot’s Commercial First Chase a miss and run in the Red Mills Chase at Gowran Park on Saturday. He is set to meet Kicking King and Sean Mulryan’s Aintree Grand National hope Forget The Past. Eamon Sheehy also has Justified entered but he may run in the Red Mills Hurdle for which he is also entered. If Kicking King runs he looks a penalty kick after his reintroduction when 2 nd to Newmill. The Hurdle looks a more competitive contest with Amatov, also in the Boyne Hurdle at Navan, and Jazz Messenger from the Noel Meade yard, Eoin Griffin’s good mare Lounaos, and Michael O’Brien’s De Valira, winner of two Grade 2 novice hurdles at both Leopardstown and Fairyhouse, having his first run since falling at Punchestown in April. If the yard is back in form the Noel Meade’s selection should win. In the Boyne hurdle at Navan Footy Facts after his recent win at Leopardstown looks to be back to his best and is worth a chance against Michael Bopwe’s mare Sweet Kiln. Willie Mullins runs Pomme Tiepy in the Ten Up Novice Chase. Unbeaten in three outings the will be a short price to complete a four-timer. The third Grade 2 event, the Flyingbolt Novice Chase, is a very competitive race. The Willie Mullins pair Scotsirish and Quatre Heures, Eddie O’Grady’s Clopf, Michael Hourigan’s The Budgee and Dusty Sheehy’s Merry Cowboy all feature. The winner of his last 2 races, The Budgee will take beating but Tommy Stack runs Perce Rock who fell in his last two race at Leopardstown. If he has his jumping together he could value each-way. KAUTO STAR: Kauto Star will have his final prep race in the Commercial First Chase at Ascot on Saturday, the going been acceptable. He will be opposed by Monet’s Star who beat him last season at Aintree over 2½ m. Believe it or not they have been watering at Ascot to ensure the Star’s participation. Lyceum, trained by Dessie Hughes, runs in the O’Callaghan Hotels Richard Power Novices’ Hurdle on Saturday at Ascot. Richard Hughes takes the ride on his father’s horse. The six-year-old gave him his first win over the sticks since renewing his jumps licence here in December. ‘Richard will ride him again and the quicker the ground the better,’ said Dessie. Remember last weekend Richard had a mount in the big handicap at Newbury. Was this to sharpen himself up? A BONE TO PICK! A bone to pick with HRI
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