Hi °C | Lo °C THE relentless Willie Mullins juggernaut relies solely on Legal Lyric to plunder further spoils at Dundalk tonight.
Although the champion National Hunt trainer saddled no runner at Thurles yesterday, he has totalled 10 winners at the previous three jumps fixtures and when he last sent runners to the Co Louth facility on February 1, Pique Sous delivered in style for him.
The same night, Legal Lyric flashed home late over seven furlongs to be beaten less than two lengths by Cookie Crumbles and the Lawman filly is tentatively napped to build on that under Seamie Heffernan now. She tackles division two of the mile handicap, with the step up in trip likely to bring out the best in her.
On just her sixth start, Legal Lyric has plenty scope to improve, which is much of her appeal in what is quite a competitive heat.
Of her 13 rivals, the hat-trick-seeking Clare Harrier and November winner The Reek are obvious dangers, likewise Atlas Peak.
Last time, Atlas Peak finished marginally in front of the selection, but John Carr's eight-year-old is far more exposed. Tamujin, second in the same race, gets the nod in the slightly weaker first division of this.
Representing Thomond O'Mara and Wayne Lordan, Tamujin, like Legal Lyric, didn't get a run until very late last time.
However, he kept on with intent when he did get out, failing to reel in the eventual winner by just a head.
Although the blinkered five-year-old is three pounds higher now, he is going the right way.
Lordan also has a chance on Muizenberg Nights in the six-furlong maiden, but that one's Tommy Stack-trained stablemate Clancy Avenue is fancied instead.
Just denied in a Down Royal nursery off 84 in the autumn, Clancy Avenue was a creditable sixth in a valuable sales race at Newmarket when last seen in October.
In the concluding conditions race, Jessica Harrington's Steps To Freedom ought to warm up for a possible Champion Hurdle tilt by accounting for recent winner Akasaka.
Aidan O'Brien's teenage daughter Ana could partner her first winner when she takes the reins on her parents' Fairylike in the preceding apprentices' race.
A staying-on sixth over 10 furlongs for the young rider last time, Fairylike ought to appreciate the step up to a mile and a half tonight.
