French Dynamite, once rated 156 for Mouse Morris, performed well on debut for the Rathkeale handler when third in the Kerry National and could be in the mix with Patrick O’Brien taking off 5lbs.
McNamara has a good track record with horses switching stables – including last year’s winner Real Steel – and he seems to be able to get them back to form, and in double quick time too.
Another new recruit is Weveallbeencaught, which was a €45,000 purchase having been trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies, and the eight-year-old could be the one to side with in this typically competitive 16-runner affair.
Seán Flanagan’s mount, a winner over this three-mile trip at the start of the year, has a lovely racing weight of 11 stone and with experience of big-race handicaps under his belt, McNamara may be the man to follow once again.
The Flat focus is at Leopardstown this weekend but there is a jumps angle to it with champion National Hunt trainer Willie Mullins looking to hold the ace in today’s Group Three Mongey Communications Eyrefield Stakes (3.15).
Mullins has not been shy about highlighting the regard which he holds for Thread Of Gold, which bolted up on debut at Curragh with Joey Sheridan keeping the plum ride, and a tilt at the Melbourne Cup is already being touted for some time down the road.
The son of Ghaiyyath can edge out Piazza San Marco, a fine winner of a Galway maiden last month for Aidan O’Brien on his second start, en route to bigger and better things in time.
Mullins also has an Australian interest this morning with Absurde a 25/1 chance under Ben Allen as he drops down in trip to 1m4f for the Group One Caulfield Cup Handicap (7.15), which boasts €1.7million to the winner.
Irish eyes will also turn to the US tonight with three raiders heading to Far Hills for the lucrative Grade One American Grand National Hurdle (8.50).
The big question is whether Gavin Cromwell and Keith Donoghue can complete a globe-trotting double in the same week as Ballysax Hank bids to follow up the Velka Pardubika heroics of Stumptown in the Czech Republic.
Gordon Elliott is doubly represented in the shape of Zanahiyr (Jack Kennedy) and Fil Dor (Danny Gilligan) and the former could be the fly in the ointment having twice made the frame in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.
With Dylan Browne McMonagle and defending champion Colin Keane both riding in Ascot today, the battle for the Irish Flat jockeys’ champion resumes at Leopardstown tomorrow while McMonagle’s boss Joseph O’Brien is also busy in France on the same day.
O’Brien sends Miracle Beauty to Longchamp with Tom Marquand filling in for McMonagle in the Listed Prix de Saint-Cyr (3.25) at the Paris track.