Falcon can swoop to conquer
The son of Fasliyev made a promising start at Tipperary nine days ago, giving the definite impression his turn would not be long delayed.
Behind in the early stages, he was noted doing all his best work at the end when two and three quarter lengths fourth behind Kevin Prendergast’s well-regarded Twenty Questions. The form was boosted when runner-up Little White Lie scored at Tipperary on Thursday.
Dermot Weld’s charge has a place and half a length to find on Golden Jess and can prove the stronger now with an extra furlong to travel.
Aidan O’Brien runs his first juvenile of the campaign in this contest, the Danehill colt Abraham Lincoln, and the market will obviously be the best guide to his prospects.
If the handicapper is right then Weld’s Golden Arrow has to take the Group three P W McGrath Memorial Ballysax Stakes.
He has a minimum of 8lbs in hand of all of his rivals so, in theory, there can only be one result! It won’t be any great surprise, however, if the reality proves somewhat different.
In any case Golden Arrow is the choice, having rounded off his two-year-old days by finishing two lengths runner-up behind George Washington in the Group One National Stakes at the Curragh in September.
Naas today houses a dreadful programme and should come fully equipped with a government health warning!
Baynes Cross is a token nap choice in the opening Naas Median Auction Maiden. He won’t take much beating, but at least comes here on the back of two reasonable efforts behind Disclosure at Thurles and Stolen Summer at Limerick.
Dissitation meets the selection on 7lbs more favourable terms compared to a handicap, but it is always risky supporting a filly until you know for sure she has trained on.
Medico, who ran well when fifth to Puerto Rico at the Curragh in October, gets the vote in the ten furlongs Maiden.
Aidan O’Brien’s Grafton Street, a son of Danehill, and Dermot Weld’s Rainbow Quest colt Global Strategy are interesting newcomers.
Ruby Walsh is the man to have on your side at Sligo tomorrow. He teams up with Cinema, third behind Munchy Mike at Downpatrick, in the moderate Harry’s Bar Sligo Mares Maiden Hurdle and the six-year-old can score.
Other possibilities for Walsh are Masamiyr, down in class following his fifth to Wine Fountain at Fairyhouse, in the second division of the Join Sligo Race Supporters’ Club Maiden Hurdle and Hearthstead Dream in the Smirnoff Handicap Hurdle.
