Aliyfa looks capable of a big run
She is certainly no star, but will handle the testing conditions and is well capable of a big run.
John Oxx’s filly produced a decent effort against useful stable companion, Alandi, in another Listed event at Fairyhouse nine days ago.
Alandi was a major market order then and duly surged past front-running Aliyfa in the straight to score unextended by five lengths. The form appears reasonable, however, considering it was a further nine lengths back to the third.
Biggest worry is probably English challenger, Michael Bell’s Allied Powers, who has shown a liking for this sort of surface in the past.
He arrives on the back of a career-best effort when runner-up to Godolphin’s Kirklees in a Group 2 at York last time.
Simon Bolivar, rested since finishing sixth to Famous Warrior at Fairyhouse last month, gets preference over Crying Time in the Donnellys’ Of Barna Auction Race.
The opening Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Maiden is best left to Aidan O’Brien’s Andantino. He battled on when beaten a short head by Kevin Prendergast’s Ejteyaaz at Tipperary and that entitles him to the vote in this class, even if it was a moderate contest.
At Downpatrick today, Dermot Weld’s Universal Truth can land the Alternate Xmas Party Race, as long as the ground remains on the good side.
He was a costly failure at the Galway Festival, fourth to Bahrain Storm, when struggling throughout on a heavy surface.
