Keyala primed to strike
The daughter of Key Of Luck disappointed at Tipperary in early May and was given a good break, before returning on this track two weeks ago.
Light in the market, she produced a decent performance and, if stripping in the same mood now, is very much the one to beat.
Keyala ran on in determined fashion up the straight to be beaten a neck into second by Árd Fheis, who turned out again two days later to land a Curragh handicap.
Aidan O’Brien’s Zulu Chief is the interesting one among the 16 possibilities for the Thoroughbred County Maiden.
A son of Fusaichi Pegasus, he will be the centre of attention by virtue of the fact that he is a half-brother to Hawk Wing.
Zulu Chief hasn’t been seen since making his debut in a division of the Wood Ditton Stakes at Newmarket in April.
He finished third then behind Jeremy Noseda’s Fanjura in a contest which has been working out reasonably well. The second (Khateeb) and the sixth (Stone Of Scone) have both won in the meantime.
O’Brien’s newcomer Gluteus Maximus could obviously be anything in the Madra Dog Foods EBF Maiden and the market will probably be invaluable in assessing his prospects.
Preference, however, is for Kevin Prendergast’s Excellent Girl, who finished a creditable third to Jim Bolger’s well-regarded Marina Of Venice in what may have been a hot Curragh heat.
Mt Weather, an easy winner at Bellewstown on Friday, could be up to defying a 5lbs penalty in the Naas Races Handicap over six furlongs.
