Roe in with Vinnie despite the inadequate trip
This is just a Listed event and both horses have bigger Group One fish to fry as we head towards the back-end of the campaign.
The great Vinnie Roe is in his final season and being geared at another Melbourne Cup, while Shalapour currently takes high ranking in the ante-post market for the English Leger.
Shalpour is in receipt of 18lbs and that means he has a theoretical 3lbs advantage over his opponent. John Oxx’s three-year-old ran an extraordinary race in the Irish Derby at the Curragh to finish third behind Hurricane Run and Scorpion. That was far in advance of anything previously achieved.
Vinnie Roe, like Shalapour, has been given a break and hasn’t been since taking a creditable third in the Ascot Gold Cup at York behind Wasterner.
There is little doubt the principals would like to go further than this 12 furlongs and, in the end, it may come down to who is the fittest. I never feel comfortable opposing Vinnie Roe and he gets the vote.
The classy and very progressive Caradak looks good to continue his climb up the ladder in the Group Three Desmond Stakes.
He produced an explosive turn of foot to slam Arakan and subsequent dual winner, Tropical Lady at the Curragh last time and is the type to follow until beaten.
At Tramore tomorrow Fayr Star, who did us a tasty favour on this track on Thursday night, again gets the nap in the Tote Ireland 75th Anniversary Handicap.
He beat Penny Rich then by a comfortable three and a half lengths, after being slightly hampered over four furlongs out, and can confirm the placings under a mandatory 5lbs penalty.
Ruby Walsh takes the ride on the selection and also has prospects in another flat race, the Waterford Crystal N M Griffin Memorial Handicap, on Mountain Snow, runner-up to Carlesimo at Galway.
Walsh is also fancied to guide Cash And Carry, below par at Wexford last time, to success over Seaforde in the Bank Of Ireland Chase.
Euracert, third to Liberman and Moydrum Castle in the race a year ago and with a pop over flights at Galway under her belt, can win the Queally Group Maiden.
At Tramore tonight Packie Tam can get punters off to the ideal start by landing the Beaver Distribution three-year-old Maiden Hurdle.
Ger Lyons’ charge looked sure to score at the first time of asking over jumps at Roscommon, but errors at the last two flights didn’t help and he was collared close home by stable companion, Raintown.
Son Of Mary, who ran a cracker at Galway when a length and a half second to Dermot Weld’s Clearing The Water, is difficult to oppose in the Guinness Median Auction Race.
