Mazuri Cowboy can set up quick-fire Doyle double
MAZURI COWBOY can build on last month's excellent effort in defeat at Fairyhouse when he tackles the two-mile-six-furlong maiden hurdle at Thurles this afternoon.
Eoin Doyle's Pilsudski gelding filled the runner-up berth for a second time when chasing Changing Times all the way to the line at the Co Meath venue.
Beaten a fast-diminishing half-length over two and a half that day, the step up to this trip will suit, and his form is solid.
Changing Times has since come out and hacked up off 111 in a handicap, while Oconnells Pike, which was 12 lengths behind Mazuri Cowboy in fourth, won nicely at Navan last Sunday. With Ruby Walsh up today, Doyle's seven-year-old is going to be hard to beat.
Douneve, representing Willie and Patrick Mullins, is the nap selection's most obvious danger, having finished second here on its only start in a bumper back in December.
Mooncoin-based Doyle could bag a quick double with Come To The Party in the following handicap hurdle. Nine have been declared for this, with Liam Casey's facile Clonmel maiden winner Betterthanalright topping the weights.
Paddy Mangan takes a useful few pounds off that one again now, but Come To The Party is easier to assess. Shay Barry's mount has won his last four completed starts, latterly beating the subsequent winners Mister First and Sumkindasuprstar into second and third off a mark of 111 in a handicap chase at Limerick a month ago.
When last seen over hurdles, he defied a mark of 95 at Downpatrick in December, so you'd have to fancy him again now off 102.
Earlier, Carrigeen Lechuga, successful here for the Lalor family two weeks ago, is taken to follow up in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares' Chase, while Inis Meain gets the nod in the two-mile maiden hurdle.
Denis Hogan's contender wasn't without his followers when just denied by Lamb Or Cod at the same meeting. Davy Russell's mount Silver Shuffle, third behind Midnight Game and Joxer at Leopardstown on St Stephen's Day, has the best form on offer, but is more exposed.
- Richard Forristal
Irish Independent
