Poli Roi starts off over hurdles Poli Roi's appearance in the opening Mervue Maiden Hurdle makes for an exciting start to proceedings at Galway. The French-bred joined Gigginstown House Stud and Gordon Elliott for 300,000 pounds after winning a point-to-point last November. He got off to a satisfactory start on the racecourse proper by taking a Navan bumper in February, before finishing third at Grade One level at the Punchestown Festival. An extended two-and-a-quarter-mile trip seems like a suitable distance to start Poli Roi off on a hurdling career now. Davy Russell's mount will be expected to prevail. Another former point-to-pointer to note is Noel Meade's First Approach in the concluding Jamie Kyne Memorial INH Flat Race. Three four-year-olds emanating from this rich source of talent - Palmers Hill, Court Liability and Chosen Path - all won at the first time of asking in Britain over the weekend. Big things are expected from First Approach too, after his victory at Dromahane last April for Donnchadh Doyle. A close relation to 14-time winner Emotional Moment, First Approach was quickly added to the Goffs Sale following that win. It came up soon after, on the Thursday after racing at the Punchestown Festival. The son of Robin Des Champs didn't find a new home through the ring then, not sold at 95,000 euros. However, it wasn't long before Noel Meade stepped in for the attractive type, on behalf of one of his long-standing owners, Patricia Hunt. Nina Carberry has made a dream return to the fray over the last couple of weeks and she'll be hoping to guide First Approach home ahead of Jonnigraig, Some Day Soon and Stooshie. Elsewhere Meade and his stable jockey Sean Flanagan are also entitled to hold out hopes with A Genie In Abottle (4.00), Bel Ami De Sivola (4.35) and Benemeade (5.05). A Genie In Abottle has an eye-catching rival in the shape of Mala Beach for the Ryans Cleaning Chase. Mala Beach makes his comeback having been absent since pulling up in the Irish Grand National won by Rogue Angel in March 2016.
