Expect a Red Letter day in Killarney
A high-class sort at two, she made her return to action in the Newmarket 1000 Guineas and ran a fine race to finish seventh, beaten less than three lengths, behind Desert Flower. On the back of that, she was sent off favourite to get back to winning ways in a listed race at Navan but, after being ridden confidently from off the pace, she was unable to get by the sticky Barnavara, who made all and got first run.
Clear of the remainder that day, it was a good effort and she can bounce back with victory here before making her way back up the grading ladder.
Fiery Lucy has decent claims, but a more appealing each-way alternative is Wannabe Royal. Joseph O'Brien's filly has proven form with cut in the ground and while she has something to find with the main players on their official ratings, the conditions can bring them much closer together.
The Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden, for three-year-olds and older, is a fascinating race, but there was a lot to be taken from the opening effort of Hellorhighwater, and he can land the spoils for Gavin Cromwell and Robert Whearty.
Unraced at two, he made his debut last month in Limerick and finished runner-up to the cleverly ridden Valorous Power.
Tucked in just a little behind the pace, he emerged as the sole threat to the winner in the straight but showed his inexperience as he hung in towards the rails initially. When the penny dropped, he picked up really nicely and was doing his best work in the shadow of the post.
He is a really nice prospect and, with anticipated progress, he should take plenty of beating in this race.
Jousting is bound to be popular in the betting, but he will need to see out his race much better than he did on debut if he is to make the step forward to winning a maiden. The consistent Chester Nimitz has some place claims, but it would be noteworthy if money came for Michael O'Callaghan's newcomer, Adieu Spirit, an Invincible Spirit colt who went from being a 28,000 Guineas yearling to a 180,000 two-year-old.
Still She Blooms deserves a breakthrough victory and can get it, at the twelfth time of asking, in the Rose Hotel Handicap. Last time out, in a nine-furlong race on soft ground at Leopardstown, she attempted to make all but was unlucky to be run down dep inside the final furlong by Deuteronomy. In similar conditions, well drawn and, ideally, back one furlong, to a mile, Chris Timmons' filly can finally have her day.
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Irish Examiner
4 days ago
- Irish Examiner
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Irish Examiner
4 days ago
- Irish Examiner
The Banger Doyle has enough class to win at 13th attempt
Out with the Flat and in with the National Hunt in Killarney, and the nap on the track's first jumps card of the week goes to The Banger Doyle, in the Dr Ivo O'Sullivan Memorial Handicap Hurdle. The John Queally-trained gelding remains a maiden over hurdles after 12 attempts but today's race can prove to be lucky 13 for the bumper and three-time chase winner. Last time out, at Tipperary, he was unlucky in running when runner-up to Red Glory, but it confirmed that he remains more than capable of exploiting his hurdling mark, which is 29lbs lower than his chasing mark. He has plenty of experience on the track and with Patrick O'Brien taking 7lbs off his back, he can gain that long, long overdue first win over timber. The KPH Construction 110 Series Final Handicap Hurdle has attracted a full field of 16 but Shadow Paddy is a young horse on the up and can complete his hat-trick. Trained by Eoin McCarthy, he made his seasonal and handicap debut, off 95, in mid-May at Tipperary and duly obliged. Upped to 103 for his next start, in another competitive race, at Limerick, he followed up in the style of a horse which had plenty more to give. The handicapper saw fit to give him another 11lbs for that, resulting in a current mark of 114, but both races have worked out quite well and everything about the performances suggest he can improve beyond his new mark. This is a competitive race, but it will take a nice performance to deny him this third win of the season. The feature on Leopardstown's card is the Group 3 Boylesports Meld Stakes, and Purview can get back to winning ways following his runner-up finish to Delacroix in the Derby Trial here. Winner of a Dundalk maiden in late 2024, he returned in the Group 3 and ran a superb race from off the pace. While he was no match for the winner, the form was shown in a great light when Delacroix overcame trouble to win the Eclipse at Sandown. Purview hasn't been seen since that run, 67 days ago, but that shouldn't be a major concern, and if he is to justify his entries in the Irish Champion Stakes and the Prix de l'Arc, he will need to go very close here. The most obvious danger is Galen, who comes here on the back of a huge effort in the listed Wolferton Stakes at Royal Ascot. Expanded has disappointed on both outings to date this season but would be a huge danger if returning to the form he showed when runner-up in last season's Dewhurst. The drop back to seven furlongs can lead Vega's Muse to victory in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic Apprentice Handicap. Jessica Harrington's consistent three-year-old ran just three days ago, in Killarney, and found only all-the-way winner Vlhova too good. That was over a mile, on yielding-to-soft ground, but back in trip, with a good draw, cheekpieces on for the first time, and Keithen Kennedy taking a couple of pounds off the filly's back, she can make the breakthrough for her career. Tommy Lyons' picks Killarney: 5:01 Son Of Anarchy 5:32 Cooke's Lass 6:02 Party President 6:37 Shadow Paddy 7:10 The Banger Doyle (nap) 7:42 Galileo Sand 8:15 Minella Supreme Next best: 5:01 Oneinthewell 5:32 Belle The Lioness 6:02 Hees Dynamite 6:37 Queenofthelodge 7:10 Whispering Hopes 7:42 Maskarvel 8:15 Palpatate Leopardstown: 4:45 Fairy Oak 5:15 Celestial Siren 5:45 Vega's Muse (nb) 6:20 Josh's Joy 6:52 Purview 7:25 Esherann 7:55 Walk The Highline 8:30 Miss Nifty Next best: 4:45 Melismatic 5:15 Duke Of Cumberland 5:45 Clonmacash 6:20 Minerva 6:52 Galen 7:25 Dancing Teapot 7:55 Heiselectric 8:30 Tatum
Irish Examiner
5 days ago
- Irish Examiner
Expect a Red Letter day in Killarney
Day three of Killarney's July festival is also the last of the week's Flat action at the Kerry venue, and the feature race is the listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Cairn Rouge Stakes, which can go the way of the Ger Lyons-trained Red Letter. A high-class sort at two, she made her return to action in the Newmarket 1000 Guineas and ran a fine race to finish seventh, beaten less than three lengths, behind Desert Flower. On the back of that, she was sent off favourite to get back to winning ways in a listed race at Navan but, after being ridden confidently from off the pace, she was unable to get by the sticky Barnavara, who made all and got first run. Clear of the remainder that day, it was a good effort and she can bounce back with victory here before making her way back up the grading ladder. Fiery Lucy has decent claims, but a more appealing each-way alternative is Wannabe Royal. Joseph O'Brien's filly has proven form with cut in the ground and while she has something to find with the main players on their official ratings, the conditions can bring them much closer together. The Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden, for three-year-olds and older, is a fascinating race, but there was a lot to be taken from the opening effort of Hellorhighwater, and he can land the spoils for Gavin Cromwell and Robert Whearty. Unraced at two, he made his debut last month in Limerick and finished runner-up to the cleverly ridden Valorous Power. Tucked in just a little behind the pace, he emerged as the sole threat to the winner in the straight but showed his inexperience as he hung in towards the rails initially. When the penny dropped, he picked up really nicely and was doing his best work in the shadow of the post. He is a really nice prospect and, with anticipated progress, he should take plenty of beating in this race. Jousting is bound to be popular in the betting, but he will need to see out his race much better than he did on debut if he is to make the step forward to winning a maiden. The consistent Chester Nimitz has some place claims, but it would be noteworthy if money came for Michael O'Callaghan's newcomer, Adieu Spirit, an Invincible Spirit colt who went from being a 28,000 Guineas yearling to a 180,000 two-year-old. Still She Blooms deserves a breakthrough victory and can get it, at the twelfth time of asking, in the Rose Hotel Handicap. Last time out, in a nine-furlong race on soft ground at Leopardstown, she attempted to make all but was unlucky to be run down dep inside the final furlong by Deuteronomy. In similar conditions, well drawn and, ideally, back one furlong, to a mile, Chris Timmons' filly can finally have her day.
