The Gordon Elliott-trained Minella Crooner is a confident nap choice for the three-mile Hollywoodbets Powering Maiden Hurdle at Punchestown today.
A point winner in Cork for John Nallen, he justified 8/13 favouritism on his racecourse debut for in Sligo back in October. And he followed-up, at 2/9, at Punchestown in November, beating Mister Beeton by six and a half lengths.
Minella Crooner made his hurdling debut in a hot two-and-a-half mile maiden at Leopardstown over Christmas and, although outpaced at the second last, he stayed on stoutly to finish second to Henry de Bromhead’s exciting prospect Journey With Me, beaten three and a half lengths, but denying Grade 1 bumper-winner Kilcruit second spot close home.
