Today's Tips: Gilded can edge it for David Wachman at Killarney
The filly had three runs as a juvenile, and posted the best of them when fifth, beaten less than four lengths, behind Anamba on her final start of the season. Drawn wide then, she was always on the back foot, but noted staying on nicely. With that in mind, and another winter on her back, she should really appreciate the step up to a mile.
She is preferred to Erysimum, who gained deserved victory when running away with a modest maiden at Sligo. She sets the standard on official ratings, but must concede weight to all, and that makes her task very difficult.
Nevertheless, she may be progressive enough to reach the frame.
Monarch can get punters off to a flying start by taking the opening maiden for Aidan O’Brien. The Galileo colt, out of a Danehill mare, made his debut just three weeks ago, at Limerick, and ran a race full of promise when third behind Maneen and one of today’s rivals, Vocal Experience. Ridden prominently from the outset, he looked to be travelling best turning for home and early in the straight, but the lack of a run may have told, as he gave best in the closing stages, to be beaten by just two lengths.
With that experience under his belt and the ideal draw next to the fence, he is likely to be asked to pop out and make all, and can do so at the expense of Atlas. The latter has shown promise in all three outings, and looks the type to make further progress this season.
O’Brien also looks to hold the aces in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF race with the unbeaten Long Island Sound. The selection made a smart winning debut at Dundalk, and improved on that effort when leading all the way at the same track next time. While he has to concede weight to all of his rivals, he appeals as the type with plenty more under the bonnet, and can fend off all comers.
The danger may come from The Moore Factor, who ran out an easy winner on testing ground last time.
Conditions will likely be very different here, but he should cope well enough with it to fill the runner-up spot.
