Ginger’s pair look set to spice-up Southern Oaks semi-finals

TRAINER Ginger McGee can tighten his grip on the Hondo Black Southern Oaks at Youghal by landing both of tonight’s semi-finals.

Sporting Press Irish Oaks winner Oran Majestic can set the ball rolling for McGee in the first.

This class-act is as low as 4-6 with Cashmans for outright honours after recording back-to-back 29.12 and 29.15 wins in recent weeks.

She staged a superb recovery after a mistimed exit last time and her sizzling early pace can again prove decisive.

Graham Holland’s Handy Princess has certainly made her mark in the stake to date. She carded a superb 28.80 before finishing an unlucky third last week (clipped from behind when in front at the opening bend).

She is clearly a talented sort but Oran Majestic is unbeaten in her last seven starts and has to get the vote.

The second semi-final can go to McGee’s Champagne Linda.

Hugely impressive when posting a 28.80 effort in round one, she failed to start in the same slick manner when beaten at odds-on last week, finishing second in 29.09.

Granted an improved exit, Champagne Linda can bounce back at the expense of rising star Raynes Park, who has been done no favours by an outside draw.

Meanwhile Skill To Rule can live up to his name by landing the IIB Bank Stakes Open 525 at tonight’s benefit meeting at Curraheen Park, in aid of Analeentha School, Mallow.

The selection is a really progressive sort, boasting a record of seven wins from 13 starts.

A hat-trick scorer over 550 yards at Tralee in May/June, Skill To Rule ran a cracker in defeat here last time, only giving best close home when going under by the narrowest of margins in 28.67. Open to further improvement and well drawn on the rails, Skill To Rule makes plenty of appeal.

Chicken Supper also boasts a progressive profile, winning six of his 11 outings. In the wars when fifth behind Skill To Rule last time, John Kiely’s runner earlier posted back-to-back 28.89 and 28.56 wins and has to be feared.

Geordie Parker is a very interesting runner in the New Ireland Stakes Open 525. This one time favourite for the English Derby and track record holder at Belle Vue is returning from a long lay-off but recent 28.69 and 17.45 trials augur well for his chances.