Majestic Desert preferred
The vote goes to the English invader, Majestic Desert, over a rival who has shown huge improvement from three to four.
Mick Channon’s daughter of Fraam has kept the best of company this season and is taking a major drop out of Group One class.
Indeed, Channon’s original plan was to stay in that league and contest next week’s Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket, but decided it was futile crossing swords with Attraction again.
Majestic Desert took on Mark Johnston’s flying machine in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot and ran a cracker to finish two and a half lengths second.
That was a step-up on previous performances on the part of the selection, even though far from disgraced in both the Irish and English 1000 Guineas.
Tropical Lady should prove a worthy opponent. She has won three handicaps in-a-row and made a big impression when easily defying a 16lbs hike in the weights at the Curragh last Sunday.
But Jim Bolger’s charge has yet to prove she is in this league and preference is for Majestic Desert.
There are a couple of interesting newcomers in the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Maiden, but the once-raced John Oxx trained En Passant is preferred.
The Danehill colt was noted staying on well when fourth to Hard Warrior at Gowran Park and can at least reverse placings with third placed Cappa Blanca, half a length in front of him, who had the benefit of a previous outing.
Dermot Weld has prospects of a double with Fandango Dancer and Genuine Charm.
Fandango Dancer, absent since finishing a promising third to Barati at the Curragh in April, gets the nod in a moderate looking Monaloe Maiden.
Genuine Charm, a costly failure on this track last time, can redress the balance in the Mount Eagle Maiden.
She didn’t stay a mile and a half then when third to the smart Two Miles West and subsequent winner, Comfort Zone, and should be seen in a more favourable light, dropping down in trip.
At Limerick tonight, the useful Batang is fancied to take the Braddish Builders’ Novice Hurdle.
He continues on the upgrade and was particularly impressive when scoring over two and a half miles at Clonmel last month.
Ballintry Guest, fifth on the flat on this track to More Rainbows and prior to that a close third over flights behind Matt Wood and The Screamer at Wexford, is the choice in the Sharp Minds Betfair Maiden Hurdle.
