Progressive Mean Lae looks set to go one better on stiffer track
This Jim Bolger-trained filly showed little in her sole juvenile start, when sixth to Sugar Free in a five-furlong Tipperary maiden.
But the daughter of Breeders Cup Juvenile winner Johannesburg shaped with plenty of promise on her three-year-old debut, when getting within a head of Samba School in an admittedly modest seven-furlong maiden at Limerick. The Bolger filly is entitled to improve significantly from that run and, likely to be suited by this stiffer track, she looks capable of getting off the mark here.
Obvious dangers include Andy Oliver’s Cilium, a promising second to Dance Pass on her debut here before finishing third to Final Approach at the Curragh, and the David Myerscough-trained Simla Sunset, third behind Dance Pass and Cilium here on her seasonal bow.
The Dermot Weld-trained Blue Ridge Lane has performed consistently this season and, following a solid handicap debut last time, is preferred to Ballydoyle colt Francisco Goya in the ten-furlong Naas Racecourse Support Club Kildare Maiden.
Third to Love Bird and Bangalore Gold in seven furlong maidens at the Curragh and Roscommon respectively, Blue Ridge Lane made encouraging late headway last time, when stepping up to a mile and a quarter in a Curragh handicap.
On that occasion, Weld’s charge filled third spot behind the progressive Johann Zofanny and Ebashan, a performance that suggested he should be capable of opening his account in the near future.
The Indian Ridge colt has obvious claims tonight, when Aidan O’Brien’s Francisco Goya looks the only serious threat.
This Ballydoyle colt had solid all-weather form, behind Ard Na Greine and Zarinski, last autumn. And his seasonal debut at Leopardstown can be ignored as he set a scorching pace before fading to finish in mid-division behind stable-companions Dixie Music and Yankee Doodle.
The Aidan O’Brien-trained Black Quartz, a Danehill Dancer colt, showed little when favourite for his Curragh debut, finishing a well-beaten fourth behind Alshabhaa, but still sets the standard in the opening two-year-old maiden.
With plenty of improvement likely, Seamus Heffernan’s mount might be good enough, although market support for any of the newcomers, notably Famous Warrior, Giopi or Akdarena would be significant.
