Essex can make the most of weight concession
Michael O’Brien’s seven-year-old is a very talented horse on his day and can make the most of the 13lbs he receives from Al Eile.
The selection hasn’t been see since contesting the Grade 1 Champion Stayers’ Hurdle at the Punchestown Festival in April.
Essex actually led coming away from two out on that occasion, but three miles stretched his stamina and he faded to finish fourth behind Refinement.
Previously, he returned from a decent break to put up a solid performance when easily beating Sweet Kiln and Powerstation at Fairyhouse. That certainly showed he is a horse more than capable of going well fresh.
The opening Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Maiden is littered with interesting newcomers, but twice-raced Brazilian Star may have the legs on all of them.
He showed nothing first time up, but made substantial improvement at Gowran Park subsequently when chasing home the Aidan O’Brien-trained Vivaldi.
The Dan Dooley Ford Motor Centre Maiden very much revolves around whether the John Oxx first-timer Akadyr, a son of Daylami, is any good.
This is a dreadful contest and if possessing reasonable ability will surely collect. In the absence of any inspiration regarding that, however, the nod falls on Etu, not totally disgraced when fourth to Copper Bell at Down Royal.
At Tipperary tonight Jim Bolger and Kevin Manning could be the combination to have on one’s side. They team up with My Girl Sophie in the Listed Danehill Dancer Stakes.
She may not be the best horse in the contest, but the ground will be particularly testing and she handled similar conditions when scoring by five lengths at Leopardstown on Wednesday night.
Luminous One is difficult to oppose for Bolger and Manning in the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF fillies Maiden. She performed nicely when third to Honolulu and Westlake at Leopardstown and was then out of her depth behind Peeping Fawn in the Group 1 Pretty Polly at the Curragh.
Bunsen Burner, second to Tommy Stack’s useful Ariege at Killarney, might get though in the Mocklershill Stables Nursery.
Smuggler’s Song, Anno Jubilo, Feel Good Factor and Medicinal are all possibilities in the Businesses Of Tipperary Town and District Chase.
Niall Madden’s Smuggler’s Song, successful over fences at Tralee, might handle the surface best of all and is the choice.
