Rely on Major Burns
The progressive six-year-old will like the expected good ground and is fancied to cope with a couple of useful rivals, who have more experience than him.
The selection got off the mark over flights at Gowran Park ten days ago, staying on doggedly at the end of two and a half miles to beat Jakers by two and a half lengths.
Of course a lot more is required now, but Major Burns may well prove up to the task!
Another on the upgrade, Coolnahilla, gets the vote to land the four mile Ellen Developments Conyngham Cup Handicap ’Chase.
Admittedly, Liam Burke’s charge would be suited by a much softer surface, but the credit side is that he may be one of the few in the field who will get this trip.
He was brilliant when scoring in testing conditions at Listowel and has a leading chance of defying an 8lbs rise in the weights.
The dropped-in-class Aine Dubh, a highly creditable third behind Iris’s Gift and Royal Rosa at Aintree, should find the company much more to her liking in the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Mares Hurdle.
At Gowran Park tomorrow, John Oxx’s Tarakala is nap material in the Glanbia Classic Trial.
Michael Kinane will be in action at Newmarket, but in-form Cathy Gannon should prove a more than adequate replacement.
The filly showed good battling qualities to beat Noahs Ark three parts of a length at Cork on her reappearance and stepping up more than two furlongs in trip looks in her favour.
Oxx’s Inspector Powell can defy top weight in the Avonmore Milk Plus Handicap, having impressed when easily winning a maiden at Cork.
Michael Grassick’s Poetical has to be the choice in the first division of the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Fillies Maiden.
She finished second three times last season, rounding off her campaign when going down by half a length to Alexander Goldrun in a Listed event at the Curragh.
At Navan tomorrow, Dermot Weld’s Maharib can prove too strong for his rivals in the Vintage Crop Stakes.
He should make a smashing four-year-old, running his best race last season when fourth to Brian Boru in the English Leger at Doncaster.
Liffey, runner-up behind John Oxx’s well-regarded Barati at the Curragh last Sunday, will be expected to go one better in the Slane Maiden.
