Dariyba can defy top weight
Michael Grassick’s five-year-old is still a maiden after 15 starts but her two most recent efforts suggest that is about to change.
Fourth behind Fuerta Ventura, a winner again since, in a better-class handicap over 9f at Navan on her reappearance last month, Princess Dariyba turned in another promising effort when a strong finishing length runner-up behind Kilmannin a Naas last time.
Kilmannin gave that form a timely boost when going in at Leopardstown on Sunday.
No Frontier kept on well when fourth in a seven furlongs handicap at Tipperary last week and should appreciate the step up in trip in division one.
Native House can land the second division of the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Maiden Hurdle.
The Carroll House mare had a number of subsequent winner in arrears when beaten a head by Arteea in a novice hurdle at Naas in March. She takes a major drop in class here after finishing sixth behind Asian Maze in a Grade 3 novice hurdle at Fairyhouse last time.
Willie Mullins can take the opening division with smart bumper performer Avoca Mist. The five-year-old won bumpers at Thurles and Fairyhouse before finishing a creditable seventh in the Aintree bumper. She cut little ice in the Punchestown equivalent last time but, on the balance of her form, is more than entitled to the vote here.
The Killarney Summerfest 2005 race should chiefly concern Corsican Native and Eye Candy. Corsican Native won a Goodwood maiden and finished second in a Newmarket handicap when trained by Amanda Perrett last season, but has show little in two starts here this term and preference is for Eye Candy.
A Naas handicap winner on good to firm last summer, Eye Candy ran well when fourth behind English raider United in the Champion 4-y-o Hurdle at the Punchestown Festival.
