Mustameet fancied to outclass big field
You could argue he has a bad draw and that six furlongs is on the short side. However, the selection looks different class to his rivals and is fancied to overcome such drawbacks.
The American-bred contested the Group Two Beresford Stakes over a mile on this track last time and was beaten a neck and two lengths into third spot behind a pair of smart horses in Azamour and tonight’s Breeders’ Cup candidate, Relaxed Gesture.
Previously, the selection wasn’t disgraced when sixth to Mark Johnston’s Pearl Of Love in another Group Two at the Curragh.
And, of course, he won first time out at headquarters, but lost the race subsequently on a technicality.
The Listed Gerrardstown House Stud Silken Glider Stakes is competitive, but John Oxx’s once-raced Treasure The Lady looks the one to beat.
She has a bit to find on the bare form of a three parts of a length defeat of Poetical at the Curragh last month, but is very well regarded and plenty improvement is likely to be forthcoming.
Aidan O’Brien’s Middlemarch, despite the fact that he’s had a busy time of it of late, should be capable of outclassing his rivals in the Customer Appreciation Race.
Certainly, the son of Grand Lodge will find this a lot easier than last Saturday’s Champion Stakes at Newmarket, where he ran well for a long way, before fading to finish ninth of 12 behind Rakti.
Grand Quest, who found nine furlongs on the short side when runner-up to Elite Society at Navan, is the choice in the Deirdre Byrne Is 30 Maiden.
At Wexford today, Christy Roche’s Which Half can leave behind a poor effort at Tipperary, in the Guinness Novice Hurdle.
The contest was a bumper and some decent bets went west when he could only manage a disappointing fourth behind Well Presented.
The best race the selection ever ran, however, was over flights at Fairyhouse last November, third to Turteleback and Star Clipper in a far better event than this.
Autumn Mist has a leading chance of defying top weight, and completing a hat-trick, in the Casey Enterprises Handicap ’Chase.
He went up 10lbs for scoring by 11 lengths at Tramore and this excellent jumper and front-runner should go close!
At Galway tomorrow Compostello, a smooth winner at Fairyhouse on Wednesday, gets the nod in the Tote Exacta Ballybrit Novice ’Chase.
Charlie Swan’s Easy, who returned from a long break to finish a creditable second to Well Presented at Tipperary, is nap material in tomorrow’s Bumper at Wexford.
