Kinane to score on Athlumney
Noel Meade’s gelding shaped as if he might be suited by 12 furlongs when runner-up on this track earlier in the month.
That contest was won by Battling Mac, a horse at the peak of his powers, who scored by two and a half lengths.
The form is particularly smart. Battling Mac had taken his previous race in a canter at Listowel and two days after he dismissed Athlumney Lad, the four-year-old went back to Gowran Park to again score in smooth style.
Michael Kinane partners Athlumney Lad and he also has prospects aboard March and Butterfly Blue.
Aidan O’Brien’s once-raced March has to be the choice to grab the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Maiden. Many of the Ballydoyle juveniles have come on a ton for their initial outing and there’s no reason to suppose the son of Danehill will be any different. He made a reasonably promising debut at Naas twelve days ago, third to Desert Grass, and should be well suited to stepping up an extra two furlongs now.
Ballydoyle could also supply the answer to the Gowran Maiden with Butterfly Blue, who has been out of her depth in a couple of races of late.
Should she, however, repeat her length and a half second to subsequent Ascot winner, My Renee, at Cork in July, then the Sadler’s Wells filly will go close.
