Granny Biddy© Photo Healy Racing
Fast-improving mare Granny Biddy steps up in class for the Grade Three Kerry Group Stayers Novice Hurdle at Cork on Sunday.
The Mick Winters-trained six-year-old has been a revelation in recent months, winning five of her last six starts.
Her last three victories have come at Cork and she steps up to three miles for just the second time in her career for her latest assignment. Moyross won over the course and distance on his last start and he is an obvious danger, with Sean Flanagan aboard for Noel Meade.
Gordon Elliott 's impressive Fairyhouse winner Monkshood is another likely to prove popular with punters, while it will be interesting to see how the Willie Mullins-trained Fabulous Saga fares with a tongue-strap fitted for the first time.
Six have been declared for the other Grade Three on the card, the Kerry Group Irish EBF Mares Novice Chase, and Shattered Love looks the one to beat.
The daughter of Yeats has won seven of her 13 starts to date and was beaten just three-quarters of a length by stablemate Jury Duty in the Grade Two Florida Pearl Novice Chase at Punchestown last time.
She has most to fear from Thurles winner Billy's Hope and the Henry De Bromhead-trained Montana Belle
De Bromhead saddles Black Key in the Low Low Handicap Hurdle, and this son of Authorized is an interesting contender with Daniel Holden taking 7lb off his back.
Twenty-three runners have been declared for the opening race on the programme, the Galtee 3yo Maiden Hurdle, and the ones to focus on are Vision D'ete Azua Emery Pete So High and North Carolina Athenean went down narrowly on his debut over flights at Punchestown last month and he can be expected to go close in the Charleville Cheese Maiden Hurdle.
Convincing Punchestown bumper winner Lighthouse Warrier is an interesting contender here for Jonathan Sweeney, while Hot Beat is another for the shortlist on his debut for Willie Mullins.
Shar Whats Therush landed a bit of a touch on his last start at Fairyhouse and might be able to follow up in the concluding Kerrymaid Novice Handicap Hurdle.
