Action from Kilbeggan© Photo Healy Racing
After a season-long battle for the National Hunt trainers' championship that will live long in the memory, Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott are both represented on the opening card of the new jumps season at Kilbeggan.
A beaten odds-on favourite on his couple of appearances to date, Stay Humble bids to make it third time lucky for Mullins in the concluding Loughnagore INH Flat Race.
Great hopes were held out for this fellow after he landed a Ballynoe point-to-point in April 2017. Despite those reverses this spring, his trainer can still be expected to get the best out of the Beat Hollow youngster.
When successful between the flags, Stay Humble recorded a very quick time, displaying an impressive turn of foot to blitz 12 rivals.
His handler then, Pat Doyle, was not surprisingly effusive in his praise. Now owned by Andrea and Graham Wylie, the five-year-old is the third foal of Rosy De Cyborg, a high-class mare over hurdles in France.
Perhaps Stay Humble will prove to be ideally suited by better ground, so any drying in the forecast soft to heavy going could help the likely market leader.
A brother to a Grade Two-winning hurdler in Monksland, Trappist Monk is a very interesting rival for Stay Humble. He made a lovely start to his career when third at Fairyhouse recently.
With Nina Carberry now retired, Mark O’Hare will take the reins on Trappist Monk for Noel Meade.
You’re Asking A lot has not done anything to recommend himself in two starts, but everything else in the six-horse field is entitled to respect in what looks an attractive heat. Dinons represents Elliott there and he has plenty of runners through the card.
The Cullentra handler is unlikely to leave empty handed and maybe it will all come together for Bold Sky with Jack Kennedy up in the www.kilbegganraces.com Handicap Chase.
Elsewhere, Charles Byrnes and champion conditional Donie McInerney combine with two noteworthy types — Thosedaysaregone (5.00) and Waterville Dancer (5.30).
Meanwhile, Gangster looks the one in the Racing Again Friday 11th May Beginners Chase.
