Competitive Jack Duggan in prospect The long-standing Jack Duggan Memorial Handicap Hurdle, again this year supported by Ladbrokes, has drawn a typically strong field for what is these days a three-mile event at Gowran. Seventeen are due to face the starter and there are any number of potential winners, including dual representations from the Gordon Elliott, Jessica Harrington, and Paul Nolan yards. Amongst this sextet, we have the Paul Townend-ridden Duckweed, as she embarks on her handicapping career. Harrington's stayer could easily be up to the task. The point-to-point graduate won over an extended three miles at Kilbeggan in mid-May and she ran with credit when dropping back markedly in distance at that same County Westmeath course last time. It was no disgrace to go down by eight lengths to Willie Mullins' Daisy's Gift then, with some form horses strung out in behind. Duckweed doesn't look over-burdened now from a mark of 111. A thread that runs through the rest of the card are chances for the aforementioned Elliott. The Cullentra House trainer's Cecil Corbett came up against useful sorts in New World and Gangster, when second on his latest outings, and he likely takes on less taxing rivals in the kilkennypembrokehotel.com (C & G) Maiden Hurdle. In the Joe Bollard Memorial Flat Race, the Elliott runner Touch A Million should at least be there or thereabouts. The step-up to two and a half miles should be a factor that'll play to this Downpatrick runner-up's strengths. Blinkers could help to improve the five-year-old's performance as well. Elliott has Vercingetorix in the Morrison BMW Hurdle and though he's failed to build on the promise of his Limerick Christmas win, the Simon Munir and Isaac Souede-owned gelding needs considering. Jack Kennedy's 7lb claim could help on the 127-rated Dai Bando and sways the favour in the direction of Ross O'Sullivan's hope, who is now tongue-tied.
