I Key can defy top weight in nursery
The selection, who ran well without winning in his first three starts, benefitted from a change of tactics when landing a similar contest over six furlongs at Fairyhouse last month.
Held up, the Fasliyev colt made smooth headway early in the straight and, having led a furlong out, ran on well to beat Certainlei a length with Seven Gold Rings a further length and a half back in fourth.
Now that trainer David Wachman has found the key to him, I Key can shrug off an 8lbs rise in the weights.
Seven Gold Rings reopposes on (8lbs) better terms but Key Rose may prove an even bigger danger. Trained by Edward Lynam, who enjoyed a welcome turn with Love City at Roscommon on Monday, Key Rose finished a close third behind subsequent Listed race winners Ba Foxtrot and Waterways at the Curragh before getting off the mark over six furlongs at Fairyhouse in May. Out of the frame in two subsequent outings in better company, Key Rose has to be feared here.
The consistent Kalabar is napped to get off the mark over flights in the Sean Barrett Bloodstock/Aon Novice Hurdle.
A dual winner on the Flat when trained in France, Tony Mullins Kahyasi gelding shaped as if this step up in trip would suit when a staying on third behind Kylebeg Dancer over two miles at Galway recently.
It’s also interesting that Ruby Walsh, who partnered Kalabar for the first time at Ballybrit, keeps the mount.
The Premier County Maiden Hurdle can go to the Tom Mullins yard, via Sauterelle.
This dual Flat race winner served notice that her turn over flights was imminent when running Miss Edgehill to a short head at Clonmel last month.
The Aidan O’Brien-Kieren Fallon combination can land the two maiden races.
Chenchikova, a full sister to dual Derby and Breeders Cup Turf hero High Chaparral, can make a winning start in the Fillies Maiden while the Sadlers’ Wells colt Poseidon Adventure looks to have fellow newcomer, Kalmez, to beat in the opener.
