MENGLI KHAN

Tuesday – 4.20 HERALD CHAMPION NOVICE HURDLE (GRADE 1) 2M 100YDS

THE first of the week’s Grade 1 contests affords Mengli Khan the chance to cement his position as one of the standout two-mile novice hurdlers of the season.

Gordon Elliott’s charge endured a dip in form at the turn of the year but he bounced back with an excellent effort at Cheltenham which makes him a formidable threat to old rival Getabird.

Through the autumn and the early part of the winter, Mengli Khan carried all before him by notching up a trio of victories which culminated in a commanding success in the Grade 1 Royal Bond Novice Hurdle. There followed an uncharacteristic run-out at Leopardstown over Christmas and he then suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of Getabird here in January.

However, he was restored to the peak of his powers for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham where he finished a fine two-length third to Summerville Boy. Getabird didn’t run to his best that day but he has since rebounded with a wide -margin success at Fairyhouse. Mengli Khan only has 2lbs to find with his rival on ratings and it is far from impossible he could gain revenge for his defeat earlier in the season.

NEXT DESTINATION

Wednesday – 4.55 IRISH DAILY MIRROR NOVICE HURDLE (GRADE 1) 3M

THIS six-year-old has a choice of Grade 1 assignments next week and would warrant maximum respect in whatever race he takes in. He has yet to try his hand over three miles on the track, but if this former winning pointer were to tackle that trip on Wednesday he could take a good deal of beating.

The son of Dubai Destination has already enjoyed a fine first season over hurdles, which began with an impressive maiden success at Naas in November.

He looked even better at Navan the following month when trouncing Cracking Smart over two and a half miles and he was again too strong for the last-named, albeit by just a length, when landing a Grade 1 at Naas in January.

At Cheltenham, Next Destination had to settle for third behind Samcro in the Ballymore where he seemed to struggle after the third last before finishing out his race in good style.

A couple of those that finished around him that day have since been beaten but others from that Cheltenham race have since shown up well and Next Destination’s finishing effort that day would indicate that he could progress for a step up in trip.

ROAD TO RESPECT

Wednesday – 5.30 CORAL PUNCHESTOWN GOLD CUP (GRADE 1) 3M 120YDS

AFTER ending last term on a high, Road To Respect has sustained that progression into his second season over fences and Wednesday’s feature affords him a terrific chance to end his campaign with a third top-level success.

RIGHT: Road To Respect - will mount a strong challenge for another Grade 1 victory.

On his first Grade 1 assignment of the season, Road To Respect was beaten half a length by Outlander at Down Royal, but much better was to come in the Leopardstown Christmas Chase.

There he turned in his finest effort to date in accounting for a field headed by the subsequent Ryanair Chase hero Balko Des Flos.

Noel Meade’s charge was then kept under wraps until the Cheltenham Gold Cup, and despite the ground being slower than ideal, he posted another excellent effort to take fourth behind Native River and Might Bite.

Neither of those rivals will be in the line-up next week and if this consistent and dependable gelding can repeat his last run he will surely mount a strong challenge for another Grade 1 victory.

BLAST OF KOEMAN

Wednesday 6.40 GUINNESS HANDICAP CHASE (GRADE A) 2M 4F

ROBERT Tyner’s charge holds entries in a couple of valuable handicap chases and appeals as a likely contender for this €100,000 contest if connections opt to take up this option.

He has just a Fairyhouse beginners’ chase success to his name over fences but a series of decent runs in smart handicaps since then point to his chances. There is plenty of evidence to suggest that he is at his best on right-handed tracks, and on his three previous visits to the Festival he has performed with credit.

Last year he was only just touched off in a two and a half-mile handicap hurdle on the Wednesday, and in 2016 he showed up well to take second in a winners’ bumper. In terms of his handicap chase efforts, he ran well for one so inexperienced when finishing third to Tisamystery at Leopardstown over Christmas and he again showed up well over an extended two miles at that track when fourth to Patricks Park in February.

He needs to improve on his fourth to Spider Web back at Leopardstown last month but there has been enough in his recent performances to suggest that a good handicap can come his way over fences. He can step forward now that he switches back to a right-handed track.

A RATED

Friday – 4.20 EMS COPIERS NOVICE HANDICAP CHASE (GRADE A) 2M 5F

THIS unexposed seven-year-old is one of the most intriguing contenders for this valuable handicap and it wouIdn’t come as any surprise if he were good enough to play a leading role.

Admittedly he hasn’t run since October, and he probably wouldn’t want the going to be testing, but his brief chasing career to date would indicate that a good prize could be within his reach.

The form of his beginners’ chase victory over Arkwrisht at Kilbeggan in August reads well and he coped with a drop back to two miles to follow up at Wexford next time.

On his only run since then he was well-beaten behind Death Duty in a Grade 3 at this track in October but he is capable of much better than he got to show that day.

His bold jumping should stand him in good stead for an assignment such as this and, if connections let him take his chance here, he could be worth following.