Meri Devie poised for big Limerick performance Meri Devie looks the one to beat in the Grade Three Irish Independent Hurdle at Limerick. Willie Mullins' filly was forced to miss the Triumph Hurdle with a late setback and went close in a Grade One at the Punchestown Festival behind stablemate Bapaume. Since then she was beaten a long way in France before finishing second at both Naas and Fairyhouse. Mullins also runs Dolciano Dici, who joined the now-retired Sandra Hughes from France but did not make the track for that handler. He is having his first run for 636 days. Joseph O'Brien has an interesting contender in Us And Them, winner of his last two at Cork and Punchestown, while Gordon Elliott runs Duca Du Thaix. Arguably the most interesting race on the card, however, is the Frontline Security Maiden Hurdle as Mullins' Epicuris makes his eagerly-awaited return to action. Not far from top-class on the Flat, he was a Group One-winning juvenile for Criquette Head-Maarek and finished fifth in Golden Horn's Derby. He joined Mullins last year, but a setback kept him off the track and he has his first outing for over 600 days. Epicuris faces a couple of interesting bumper winners in Mouse Morris' Captain Zebo and Ministerforsport, who has his first outing for Noel O'Neill having won three points and a bumper for Terence O'Brien.
