King & Queen for Ballinrobe Tuesday His trainer, Willie Mullins wasn't alone in thinking that Truxton King had gone up too much in the ratings when getting a 13Ib hike for a Gowran success but defy the handicapper he did by doubling up on the all-weather at Dundalk on October 17th last. He handled that surface well and though at the time it was a possibility that he would go back there, it was already in the mind of his trainer that hurdling would be his game. That Gary Carroll-ridden winner marked Willie Mullins' first success under Dundalk's lights. What makes the grey’s reappearance after a 277 day break for his first taste of jumping action in tomorrow's J.J.Burke Subaru Maiden Hurdle at Ballinrobe interesting, is the fact that he is a half-brother to I'm Supposin. That fellow won the 1996 Ulster Derby, he was placed fourth in the following year's Champion Hurdle behind Make A Stand, he was third twelve months on in that event behind Istabraq and he has gone on to sire some jumps winners since. Mullins said on Monday afternoon: "He is having his first run over hurdles, he won two on the flat and he is after having a break and he is coming back now so we'd be hoping he'd run well. We like the I'm Supposin part of his pedigree and we were delighted that he won a couple of flat races on the way. I haven't seen what the tomorrow's race is like yet." Truxton King, a son of Clodovil, will be partnered by Ruby Walsh in the two miler for four-year-olds and he will face fourteen rivals. Meanwhile top point-to-point mare and winner of her reappearance under Rules at Roscommon a fortnight ago, Media Queen goes in search of another success in the Board Gais Networks Handicap Hurdle. Raised four pounds for getting there on the line by a short head last time, Davy Russell will again be aboard this game half-sister to Rathmore Castle. Trainer Donie Hassett expressed concern that the trip of two miles might be too sharp fourteen days back but she now has an extra half a mile to help her display her true worth. The mare is owned by Derek O'Connor's uncle, Charlie Moore from Kilworth. (EM)
