Irish Eyes on Sedgefield today Opatja and Friendly Giant get the Irish challenge at Sedgefield underway today when the pair contest the Boro Taxis 01642 222 222 Novices' Hurdle. The former is odds-on to maintain the Gordon Elliott run of success. Jason Maguire will take the mount on the daughter of Nashwan, who was with Colm Murphy prior to Capranny Stables. She cruised through the race and victory was never in doubt when she scored at Newton Abbot by eight lengths under Tony McCoy back in April. She was beaten at odds-on since but looks a worthy market-leader today. Meanwhile Friendly Giant, a $1,000,000 yearling and a half brother to very smart two-year-old and sprinter, Bertolini and out of a mare that was a US Grade 2 ten furlong winner, herself a sister to champion US two-year-old filly, Althea, all from the family of Green Desert, again bids to display the worth of this breeding. Ex-Ballydoyle, James Lambe's charge was well-backed when pulling up almost a year ago at Down Royal. The chestnut son of Giant's Causeway has had two outings in recent times and it will be interesting to see what way Robert Thornton's mount goes in the betting here. Friendly Giant's stable companion, Come Back To Me, an ex Charlie Swan-inmate, seems a justifiably short-priced 'jolly' under Thornton for the saltwellsigns.co.uk Novices' Hurdle. Prospectorous, described as strong, lengthy gelding, won two races when racing in the colours of Sarah Crowley, wife of the Piltown trainer, Joe, and today the son of Monashee Mountain has his first outing for Philip Dempsey when he contests the Michael Tallentire "The Rock Returns" Novices' Handicap Chase. Denis O'Regan takes the ride on the five-year-old in this two and a half miler. His form over fences is nothing to get excited about but it should be noted that he was capable of running Won In The Dark to a length and a half in a juvenile hurdle at Cork in November 2007. Interestingly he has shortened in price across the board this morning. Ta An Athas Orm joins Prospectorous as an Irish challenger for the 4.15 whilst his handler, James Lambe has Hawksbury Heights and Supply And Fix in the Sedgefield Bookmakers Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle half-an-hour later. Both are expected to appreciate the better ground. The other Irish runner is Colin McBratney's Prince Mandala under Graham Lee in the 2.45.
