Rock The World© Photo Healy Racing
Cheltenham Festival winner Rock The World heads a strong list for the Dick And Mary Butler Memorial Handicap Chase at Killarney this evening.
Since capping a memorable week at the Cotswolds for Jessica Harrington when landing the Grand Annual, the nine-year-old finished an honourable fourth in the Punchestown Grade One won by Fox Norton before proving no match for Ballycasey when upped to two and a half miles at this venue.
The top weight drops back in distance and class, and takes on stable companion Mr Fiftyone as well as a Henry de Bromhead trio that features last year's Galway Plate fourth Devils Bride who was a long way adrift of Rock The World here.
De Bromhead is represented by Conrad Hastings in the Bunkers Bar & Restaurant Killorglin Novice Chase, and he was most impressive on his fencing bow at Kilbeggan.
He takes on a different calibre of opponent here, though, with Potters Point Sea Light Das Mooser Static Jack and Freewheelin Dylan all meriting respect. Sir Jack Yeats and Na Trachtalai Abu have both been paying their way over hurdles but revert to the bigger obstacles and take each other on in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Handicap Chase.
Four Flat races start the mixed card off, beginning with the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden. Aasheq has been beaten favourite in each of his five previous outings and will do well to successfully concede weight to the likes of Breeze Artistic Melody and Birds Of Prey
Joseph O'Brien 's Druids Cross is the highest-rated contender for the Celtic Steps The Show At Killarney Racecourse Rated Race but he drops markedly in distance and the only other three-year-old in the line-up, the Ger Lyons-trained Tuff Love might have more potential. Grey Waters in one of three for O'Brien in the Sea Lodge Waterville Handicap, while Gordon Elliott's Fairy Flute bids to build on her Limerick second in the Ross Golf Course Handicap.
