Jazzy Matty (centre) winning the Boodles Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham for Gordon Elliott and Michael O'Sullivan© Photo Healy Racing
The ground has dried out a bit at Tramore ahead of the second leg of a two-day meeting with the action getting underway in the south-east seaside venue at 4.15.
Following a dry 24 hours the going is now described as yielding on the chase course and soft, yielding in places, on the hurdle course.
Injuries to Jack Kennedy, Jordan Gainford and Sam Ewing have given Michael O’Sullivan more opportunities with Gordan Elliott in recent weeks, and the pair team up with a couple of well-fancied contenders in the opening two races. Calico will bid to end a frustrating run of places in the opening Newtown Maiden Hurdle, while Smooth Player is around an even money chance half-an-hour later in the Ladies Day August 19th Maiden Hurdle.
The Galway bumper winner has filled the runner-up spot on both recent starts and will also have O’Sullivan’s valuable 5lb claim. Lord Schnitzel has won six point-to-points and a Limerick hunter chase for Declan Queally and looks set to go off at odds-on in the concluding Gaultier Hunters Chase (7.15).
