Lilly The Lioness, yellow© Photo Healy Racing
Garrett Power feels Killarney's left-handed circuit will be to the advantage of Lilly The Lioness when she runs in the feature race over hurdles this evening.
The Co Kilkenny handler has high hopes for the eight-year-old ahead of the valuable Download The Free Racing Post Mobile App Handicap Hurdle after she won so well at Galway last month.
Sent off an 8-1 chance in a mares' handicap hurdle over two miles, the versatile Lilly The Lioness showed trademark bravery to record a length-and-a-quarter victory over Crystal Earth who renews rivalry at Killarney.
In spite of that success, Power believes she was not entirely happy with her lot at Ballybrit.
He said: "It was a very gutsy victory at Galway as she's never quite as good on right-handed tracks.
"It wasn't ideal for her as she didn't really settle and hung - as well as jumping to her left.
"She's finished a close second in a Flat handicap at Killarney before so I think she'll be a lot better suited going left-handed at a track like that.
"She's been a great servant for us and very rarely runs a bad race.
"This looks a tough one, but she deserves to be there and we've got a grand weight down at the bottom (10st 3lb) and Shane (Shortall) is obviously taking off another 5lb.
"The ground out there is currently good, good to firm in places, and that will be OK for her."
Eleven rivals stand in Lilly The Lioness' way, including the Jessica Harrington-trained Modem who won the keenly-contest Connacht Handicap at Galway but missed the cut for the Galway Hurdle a few days later.
Joint-top weight with Modem is Tony Martin's The Plan Man who finished second behind Vive La France in the Guinness Handicap Hurdle at Galway. Bally Longford also brings Galway-winning form to the table, while Rupert Lamb is sure to have his followers as he is trained by Willie Mullins and will be ridden by Ruby Walsh.
