Further rain would please Hotazhell There is Flat and jumping action this afternoon with two Listed races on a quality card at Navan and also eight races at Punchestown for the second day of their weekend fixture. Hotazhell faces 11 rivals in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Hill Of Tara Stakes at 3.27pm in Navan, and the Jessica Harrington-trained colt would appreciate any further rain. The son of Too Darn Hot won the Group 1 William Hill Futurity Trophy as a juvenile and competed at the top table last season including when fourth behind Delacroix in the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes. Shane Foley’s mount is currently around an 11/8 favourite, while the Ger Lyons-trained Geryon has been supported from 11/1 into 11/2. The Darley Irish EBF Kooyonga Stakes is the other Listed race on the card (at 4.02) and Drop Dead Gorgeous bids to get back on track after disappointing in the Gallinule Stakes at the Curragh last month. The Joseph O’Brien-trained Sindria has attracted interest this morning for this mile event and has been cut in early trading from 6/1 into 7/2. Ocean’s Breath added to a Dundalk maiden win this year when scoring in good style at Fairyhouse on Friday evening and is likely to go off at short odds to defy a 7lb penalty for Ger Lyons and Colin Keane in the Navan Handicap over just short of six furlongs at 2.52. Keane teams up with his dad Gerry in division two of the Cusack Hotel Group Family Raceday July 11th Handicap at 5.12 where the consistent Mephisto is a strong contender. The going remains good following 3mm of rain and showers are forecast throughout the day. The first on an eight-race card at Punchestown gets underway at 1.22pm and Anna McGuinness has a strong book of rides for champion trainer Willie Mullins including Ocastle Des Mottes in the featured K-Mech Mechanical Handicap Chase at 2.32. The 2m4f event looks quite an open affair but the French-bred gelding has been well backed this morning from as big as 7/1 into 9/2. McGuinness and Mullins also team up with two short-priced favourites in the opening two chases with Supersundae and Yoradreamer, while Some Pretender is another market leader in the maiden hurdle over an extended 2m5f at 3.42. Al Arrivee will be expected to round off a good day for the Mullins team in the hands of trainer’s son Patrick in the bumper. The going at Punchestown remains good to yielding following 4mm of rain yesterday. Further rain is expected to develop this afternoon (10mm approx.).
