MCMANUS PRIZE SET FOR EXPORT ON SUNDAY

All roads lead to Tipperary on Sunday afternoon when the John James McManus Memorial Hurdle takes centre stage on a mouth-watering mixed card.

Sponsored by J.P. McManus in memory of his late father, the feature event of the eight-race programme has attracted a field of nine headed by prolific scorer In Contrast, who gets the vote to make a winning start to the new campaign for his astute handler Philip Hobbs.

With Davenport Milenium an absentee after failing to sparkle in work last Thursday, the contest has a more open look about it now with Timber King, a live hope for the race sponsor, and last season's leading novices Scottish Memories and Ballyhamshire Boy also in the line up.

But although the two mile trip is not ideal for In Contrast, one of two British raiders making the trip to the Munster track, he can continue where he left off last April when he scored by an emphatic seven lengths at the expense of Sea Drifting in a 2m 5f winners event at Cheltenham. Unlike some of his rivals he will simply relish the fast ground, another plus in his favour.

The Listed Danehill Dancer Tipperary Stakes is the opening flat contest on a smashing card and Mombassa, who comes out top on official ratings, gets a confident vote to score for Eddie Lynam.

This colt recorded a smart course and distance success from Full Cream and previous scorer Ryan`s Academy in a winners event back in August and rated 105 can put another victory on the board at the expense of Sun Slash.

John Oxx has his string in sparking form in recent weeks and D'Anjou may be the pick of the bunch in the main flat race of the session, the Group 3 Concorde Stakes over seven furlongs. This colt didn't enjoy the clearest of runs in a valuable handicap over this trip at headquarters last month when eventually finishing seventh to One More Round but he deserves another chance and could be the value to upset Marionnaud and Sahara Desert.

SELECTIONS

2.15 Mombassa

2.45 Gianfanti

3.15 In Contrast (Nap)

3.45 D'Anjou

4.15 Thari

4.50 Wouldn't You Agree

5.20 Fair And Lively

5.50 Claramanda