Rely on Rio to get off the mark at third attempt
The Namid colt made a promising debut at Tipperary when grabbed close home and beaten three parts of a length by Crooked Throw.
He then ran at Navan late last month and it was a similar story, this time he was mugged late as well when going down by a length to Mooretown Boy.
There hasn’t been any indication Rio has a think about the game and chances are he will find this opposition to his liking!
John Oxx’s once-raced Karawana can provide the answer to the Thomond Park Maiden.
The daughter of King’s Best had future winner marked all over her when a close third to the smart Sharapova at the Curragh 12 days ago.
Dermot Weld’s Artist’s Tale is the choice in a competitive little six-runner Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Race.
He created a favourable impression first time up when making most of the running to take a Leopardstown maiden by a length and a half.
Weld has solid prospects of a double at Downpatrick today with Kinger Rocks and Majestic Concorde.
Kinger Rocks, fresh from scoring over flights at Punchestown, has to get the vote in the Eastwood Envirowaste Race.
Majestic Concorde looks best in the Downpatrick On-Course Bookmakers’ Handicap. He showed that staying was his game when beating Sue Princess a cosy length and a half over 12 furlongs at Killarney this week and can confirm the placings on 5lbs worse terms.
Jim Bolger’s Heliostatic is the hopeful selection for tomorrow’s Group Two Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at Leoprdstown.
He made a reasonable reappearance when a neck second to Mick Channon’s Yasoodd on this track and may have the legs on Golden Arrow, in a race in which not too many of the eight contestants can be dismissed with confidence.
In the absence of any evidence Modeeroch has trained on, Queen Cleopatra, a close fourth in a Group Three at Longchamp, gets the nod in the Derrinstown Stud 1000 Guineas Trial.
Connaught Hall looks the bet of the day in the Meteor Mobile Mares Maiden Hurdle at Limerick tomorrow.
Willie Mullins’ charge is down in class, having been touched off in the dying strides by Drummer First in a novice event at Punchestown.
Ruby Walsh partners Connaught Hall and he can team up with Visit Wexford to win the Martinstown Maiden Hurdle.
John Kiely’s five-year-old has plenty of experience, as well as plenty of ability, and is very much the right one, as long as the surface remains on the quick side.
In contrast any rain would increase one’s belief in Slim Pickings proving capable of taking the Hugh McMahon Memorial Chase.
Unlike principal rival, Davenport Democrat, he seems sure to get this three miles, producing a career-best effort at Punchestown when runner-up to Missed That.
