Ejteyaazset to go one better
The surface is certain to be testing and that is unlikely to worry the son of Red Ransom. He was the medium of some decent wagers on his debut at Roscommon 12 days ago, but the money remained solidly in the satchels.
The selection attracted plenty of support in the morning and was taken from 9-4 to 6-4 at the track. But, on heavy ground, he went under by a length and a quarter to Jim Bolger’s Marfach, who had the benefit of two previous outings.
Aidan O’Brien’s Andantino is the obvious worry. He only hinted at having ability when a remote seventh behind the classy Walk On Bye at the Curragh, but if finding substantial improvement that would hardly be a surprise!
O’Brien’s Tamarind is impossible to oppose in the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Fillies Maiden. As a daughter of Sadler’s Wells, the ground shouldn’t hold any fears for her.
She ran with a lot of promise first time out, fourth to Miss Keller at Gowran Park, and was in a different league, compared to this opposition, when fifth behind Beauty O’Gwaun in a Group 3 at Naas.
The mud-loving Taralga is very much the one to beat in the five-runner Willie O’Rourke Memorial Handicap.
She has shown dramatic improvement of late and can shrug off a rise of 14lbs for two recent successes. Her latest victory came at the Curragh last Sunday.
Admittedly, Taralga got her own way totally in that ladies’ event, making all the running, under a vintage Adrienne Foley drive.
But she revelled in the heavy ground to easily beat Gratified and, in her current mood, has to get the vote.
Feature event at Tipperary tomorrow is the Grade 3 Kevin McManus Bookmaker Grimes Hurdle and the nap vote here falls on Edward O’Grady’s Jumbo Rio.
His latest two efforts have come in France, at Auteuil, when having a rear view on both occasions of the talented and prolific winner, Rendons Grace.
There was no disgrace in either of those performances and, though Jumbo Rio has a bit on at the weights, has to be regarded as the best four-year-old in the country.
At Fairyhouse tomorrow, Kevin Prendergast’s Famous Warrior can provide the solution to the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Maiden.
The son of Alhaarth was a warm order at the first time of asking at Naas, but only managed a close third to Beat Surrender and subsequent Curragh winner, Black Quartz. Famous Star now has an excellent draw in 13.
