Friday action at Kilbeggan and Down Royal: Three horses to follow

Another double-header in Ireland takes place this Friday with the jump action continuing at Kilbeggan starting at 4.07pm for the second day of their two-day September fixture and Down Royal hosting a flat card beginning at 3.53pm.

Trainer Maurice Ahern has landed some nice pots this season, notably with his stable star Perry Mason who provided him with his first winner under rules at the Curragh last year and scored twice since at headquarters.

One of Ahern's five winners this year was Lough Leane over 10 furlongs at Ballinrobe in May.

The ex-David Simcock-trained five-time winner in Britain will be of interest stepping back up in trip in the extended 1m2f apprentice handicap (6.30pm) at Down Royal.

Adam Browne Souza is reunited with the 6yo, having last partnered the gelding to finish second in a 26-runner Curragh 1m handicap last March.

Lough Leane, rated as high as 80 when he came to Ireland and runs off 65 here, seems versatile in terms of ground. With some showers around the easy side of good should be ideal.

The last day at Naas when drawn out wide he hinted signs of better to come in handicap company after getting outpaced over a far from ideal 7f.

He hit the line well looking in need of further so this step up in trip should play to his strengths, if overcoming his wide draw.

Ahern sent his summer Galway festival winner Counting Coup to win his maiden at Down Royal last June and his sole runner at the venue on Friday evening looks an each-way play.

MAXWELL SMART LOOKS READY FOR A REPEAT BID

Maxwell Smart opened his account when winning the Grant Thornton Handicap last season and Tom McCourt's 4yo looks to have been trained for a repeat bid in the first division at 7.00pm.

Before winning this race 12 months ago he ran with credit when 4th of 15 in a slightly longer handicap at Navan. He contested the same race last week won by the Ado McGuinness-trained Miss Australie who renews rivalry off a 7lb higher mark.

Having performed well again filling the same fourth berth, he should give a good account here with his wide draw again a slight negative.

He acts around this track though having finished a creditable third on his second start over hurdles last November and James Ryan, on board when the pair scored last season, takes the mount again.

At Kilbeggan on Friday Paul Townend has three rides for his boss Willie Mullins and it's interesting to see he's not teaming up again with How's Ellie who gave him such a crashing fall with victory in sight at Ballinrobe.

Interestingly, Dan King is called up aboard How's Ellie on Friday with Townend electing to watch it from the weighroom.

The seven-time champion is reunited with Fou De Toi, who King partnered when runner-up over further on chase debut last time, in the beginners' chase (6.15). This is a vote of confidence despite this shorter trip.

He may well prove up to the task at the expense of chasing recruit Manoir De Mirande, the only 4yo in the field getting all the allowances under 7lb claimer Josh Halford.

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