Miracle Steps can defy big rise in weights
The daughter of Theatrical won by nine lengths on this track last week and went up 15lbs for that performance.
Andrew Oliver’s filly went into the contest with little or nothing to recommend her, but travelled like a dream throughout. She cruised to the front well over a furlong down and, in the end, scored with any amount in hand.
Subsequent events have indicated that 15lbs may not be enough to stop the selection going in again.
At Dundalk on Wednesday night, Fandango Boy, runner-up behind Miracle Steps nine days earlier, bolted in by six lengths to give the form a major boost.
Ger Lyons’ twice-raced Shirley Blake looks best in the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Maiden, even if she has the worst of the draw in 14.
The daughter of Acclamation is a hold-up horse in any case, so it will be a question of Johnny Murtagh weaving his way through in the closing stages.
Shirley Blake was last seen here in the middle of October when run out of it close home and beaten three parts of a length into second by Daliyra. Dropping down a furlong now should work in her favour.
If Excelerate puts his best foot forward then he should take the bookings@dundalkstadium.com Race. Eddie Lynam’s six-year-old is the highest rated, but hasn’t been easy to train and his only outing this season was at Killarney in August when a creditable fourth to Poet in a Listed event.
