Improving Off The Mark looks poised to strike
He comes here on the back of a career-best effort at Navan last month and Philip Fenton’s improving charge should prove hard to beat.
The six-year-old was the medium of a big gamble then, finding 9-4 from 5-1. He ran a smashing race, but was ultimately no match for the favourite, Call Bewleys.
That winner cruised past the selection at the second last and wasn’t hard pressed to score by three and a half lengths.
Call Bewleys is a horse with a real future and it will be a surprise should Off the Mark run into anything near as good now.
The Roadbridge Summer Hurdle promises a fine contest, bringing together smart sorts in Piltown, Bahrain Storm, Apt To Run and English challenger, Katies Tuitor. I have little hesitation rowing in with Bahrain Storm, who has gone from strength to strength, warming up for this when scoring on the flat at Gowran Park.
Pat Flynn’s gelding has developed into a particularly decent hurdler and will find this easier, compared to tackling Grade 1 company at the Punchestown Festival when third to Punjabi and Financial Reward.
The consistent Antigua Bay. touched off by Miss Mason at Listowel, may not have the best of the weights in the Supporting The Special Olympics Race, but still gets the nod.
At Cork tomorrow once-raced Observation Post can provide the solution to the Listed Kerry Spring Water Rochestown Stakes.
He does have to step up on his debut run, third to Elletelle and Pittori at Leopardstown, but there is every likelihood of Aidan O’Brien’s son of Johannesburg doing just that.
The Group 3 Kerry Group Noblesse Stakes for fillies is fiercely competitive, complicated by the presence of no less than four from across the water.
Possibly that is the source which will supply the winner and the nod falls on Paul Cole’s High Heel Sneakers. The daughter of Dansili faced a difficult task at Goodwood, beaten three and a half lengths by Munsef when attempting to concede that useful sort 5lbs.
The opening Tattersalls (Ireland) Auction Maiden won’t take much winning and can fall to David Wachman’s Casablanca Jewel, who should come on plenty for her initial outing behind Dermot Weld’s Applesnap at Leopardstown.
At Fairyhouse tomorrow the hat-trick seeking Cool Running looks best in the Sporting Emporium Chase. He beat the subsequent winner Whataboutya at Punchestown and followed with a smooth success at Killarney.
