Lark can slip ’em

ANTE-POST joint favourite Slip The Lark can lay down an early marker in the Cashmans Bookmakers Irish Laurels at Curraheen Park by landing an ultra- competitive heat 13 tonight (7.47 start).

Pat Buckley’s ace lines up here on the back of a cracking effort in the Irish Derby final at Shelbourne Park last weekend, only giving best on the line when beaten by the narrowest of margins to Shelbourne Aston in 29.83.

Sandwiched between last year’s Derby and Laurels runner-up Tyrur Laurel and another Buckley inmate, the talented Target Kewell, means the selection has little room for error at trap-rise.

However, Slip The Lark did nothing but impress throughout the Derby and this class-act can continue on an upward curve.

Other leading ante-post fancies, Forest Master and Kryptonite, appear to face more straightforward tasks in heats 15 and 16 respectively.

Trained by Fraser Black, Forest Master rattled off a superb hat-trick before making an unlucky exit in the quarter-finals of the Irish Derby.

He posted a brilliant 28.19 in a solo spin here last weekend and should take all the beating.

Likewise, Puppy Derby runner-up and English Derby finalist Kryptonite, who carded 28.49 in a recent solo, should carry too many guns for his rivals in the concluding heat.

Heat seven can go to brilliant early pacer Allmighty Jack. James Roche’s ace was an impressive winner of the Irish Sprint Cup at Dundalk, taking the final in a sizzling 21.08, and should take a deal of catching.

Paul Hennessy, who has turned out the winner of two of the last three Laurels, can click with Nawhobberthadda in heat 12. He ran well before making an unlucky exit in last year’s Laurels semis and looked to be coming back to something like his best when an unlucky length runner-up in 28.55 here last week.