The classy Muirhead is potentially very well treated in today’s Munster National at Limerick (4.35) and makes plenty of appeal at 14/1.
Noel Meade’s gelding has always been not far off the best over hurdles, and showed he retained plenty of ability when chasing home Khyber Kim at Aintree in 2010 and finishing fifth of 11 to Champion Hurdler Hurricane Fly at Punchestown in the same month.
He then had his attention switched to the larger obstacles, and made a winning debut when jumping well to beat Coolvaney Gaffer by a neck at Punchestown last October where he idled after hitting the front too soon.
This season saw him revert to the smaller obstacles for his seasonal reappearance in a Grade 3 event at Tipperary where he clearly needed the race and trailed in a well beaten sixth of 7 to Captain Cee Bee.
However that contest was clearly being used as a prep race for the Galway Festival where he ran a cracker to finish third to Sarteano in a 2m 6f handicap chase off a mark of 132.
Connections have clearly been at pains to protect his chasing mark, as they again switched him back to hurdles to register an easy success at Ballinrobe off 152.
He also ran OK on his latest start when fourth of 6 to Plan A over hurdles at Fairyhouse in a slowly run race which didn’t suit, and given that he is rated 20lb lower over fences than hurdles he is potentially very well treated.
His lack of experience over the larger obstacles is obviously a slight concern, as is his ability to stay the 3m trip.
But I was impressed by the way he jumped when scoring at Punchestown, and the way he stayed on at Galway suggested to me that an extra two furlongs would not be a problem at this stage of his career.
His trainer certainly know that time of day when plotting one up to land a big prize, and he has definitely got Muirhead in on a winning mark.
At 14/1 he looks excellent each-way value in a typically wide open contest.
Daily Sport recommended bet: 2pts each-way Muirhead (14/1 Coral, Stan James)