Castor fancied to go one better in opener
The once-raced son of Fasliyev made a good start at Tipperary 12 days ago and is fancied to build on that effort.
It took a while for him to understand what was required and the selection was towards the rear for much of that seven furlongs journey.
But Castor finished with a real flourish to be beaten a short head by Charles O’Brien’s Lastkingofscotland.
The ground was very testing then and today’s forecast soft surface is hardly going to be a problem!
Samba School is the highest rated horse in the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Fillies Maiden and is obviously the one to beat.
She was, however, a little disappointing on her reappearance when failing to cope with Dermot Weld’s newcomer, Ma Ani, at Dundalk.
Preference then is for Weld’s Moving Heart, who does have 9lbs to find with Samba School at the weights
Moving Heart looked all over a winner at Cork last time, only to be collared late and beaten a head by Silk Mascara.
She drops down over a furlong in trip now and that may very well work in her favour.
John Oxx’s Aliyfa can defy top weight in the four-runner Croom Handicap. The daughter of Spinning World seems to be a thorough stayer, battling on stoutly at the end of an extended ten furlongs when a length second to Mariydi at Dundalk earlier this month.
