Sam Curling bids to follow up on the victory of Aloneamongmillions in last year’s renewal as he is set to saddle Some Are Lucky in Friday’s Boylesports Tetretema Cup at Gowran Park.
A nine-time winner between the flags, the ten-year-old who will be ridden by his owner Gerry Spain, for what will be his first run since finishing sixth behind next week’s Cheltenham Festival Hunter Chase contender Mr Mantilla in a novice riders open at Borris House in November.
In last year’s race, it was Curling’s Aloneamongmillions who got the better of the David Christie-trained Some Man, and the Fermanagh handler has a three-strong team declared for Friday’s race which is headed by the likely one to beat in Winged Leader.
The seven-year-old held every chance at Thurles only to come down at the final fence having been upsides the eventual winner Jury Duty at the time. He is once again the pick of Barry O’Neill and will be joined at the Kilkenny track by stable mates On The Sod and Dylrow.
The latter will be ridden by Ben Harvey for his first appearance since finishing tenth in last year’s Cheltenham Foxhunters, but he is notable for beating Billaway in last season’s Down Royal Hunter Chase.
Jamie Codd will have a rare ride for Christie aboard On The Sod who finished eighth at Thurles, whilst the biggest danger to the Christie trio could well come from Sean Doyle’s Solomn Grundy.
The 11-year-old, who won open races at Tattersalls and Damma House in the autumn, does hold a Cheltenham Festival entry having finished third behind leading Festival Hunter Chase contenders Billaway and Staker Wallace at Naas on his latest outing.
Bellow Mome is another with a notable upcoming entry, as he is engaged in next month’s Randox Health Aintree Grand National as is one of two runners on Friday for Willie Mullins, as he will be joined by stable mate Dragon D’Estruval, whilst the field will be completed by the Fairyhouse runner-up Wrong Direction and the outsider From Eden.
The Gowran Park card also features a point-to-point bumper which was won impressively last year by next week’s leading Ballymore contender Bob Olinger, and the Patrick Mullins, Henry de Bromhead and Robcour team look to have the leading hope once again in Journey With Me.
The son of Mahler was one of the stars of last year’s autumn four-year-old campaign when he won impressively at Ballindenisk for Mick Murphy before being sold privately to current connections.
The field of seven also features Chato Santana who chased home the recent impressive Fairyhouse bumper winner Dom Of Mary when second on his debut at Moig South in December when with Cormac Doyle. Now with Denise Foster, he will be the mount of Jamie Codd.
