Vinnie Roe’s class can see him through

LEOPARDSTOWN tomorrow is going to be a big day for Dermot Weld as two of his stable stars, Refuse To Bend and Vinnie Roe, return to action.

Refuse To Bend, winner of the English 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, contests the Group Three Desmond Stakes and has far from an easy task off top weight.

Following that classic success, he made no show in the Epsom Derby in June, finishing a disappointing 13th behind Kris Kin, and was then given a long break.

Weld believes he didn’t stay a mile and half and now looks on him as purely a miler.

Refuse To Bend is actually 4lbs wrong with Livadiya, but Harry Rogers’ charge has never translated her tremendous form in handicaps to these type of events and Refuse To Bend is preferred.

Vinnie Roe, successful first time out on this track last season, makes a belated reappearance in the Ballyroan Stakes.

He hasn’t been seen since running a gallant fourth behind stable companion, Media Puzzle (rec. 14lbs), in the Melbourne Cup in November.

Weld will surely have left plenty to work on, with bigger fish to fry later on, but Vinnie Roe has a minimum of 10lbs in hand of all of his rivals and his class can see him through.

Take Flite, raised 4lbs for a narrow victory at the Curragh last weekend, gets the nod in the Irish Stallion Farms’ August Handicap.

At Tramore this afternoon, Michael Halford’s Corporate Express looks the bet of the day in the concluding Smirnoff Maiden. The Sri Pekan gelding is clearly no star, but has run two solid races, particularly his length second to odds-on Kirov King at Downpatrick a week ago.

Balasari would be a long way down the pecking order at John Oxx’s, but may be capable of landing the Guinness Median Auction Maiden.

He has at least plenty scope for improvement, this will be just his third race, and wasn’t disgraced when fourth of five behind Donturnurbak a Fairyhouse.

At Tramore tomorrow the improving Raise A Storm gets the nap to keep David Wachman’s good run in full flow in the Waterford Crystal Noel M Griffin Memorial Handicap.

Despite going to the front far too early, he performed creditably at Galway when runner-up to Rapid Deployment in the GPT Handicap and followed by landing a maiden hurdle at Sligo by 20 lengths.