Go for Emulous
Highest rated is Jim Bolger’s Akdarena, who has 4lbs and 8lbs respectively in hand of principal rivals Beethoven and Emulous.
But Akdarena hasn’t missed too many cockfights so far this campaign, she has already had six outings, and a mile on a quick surface looks plenty sharp enough for her at this stage of the game.
Beethoven, winner of the Dewhurst at Newmarket, has run two crackers this season. He was sixth to Canford Cliffs in the St James’ Palace at Royal Ascot and fifth to Canford Cliffs in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood subsequently.
The son of Oratorio was far from disgraced in both events and this obviously represents a major drop in class.
The vote, however, goes to the lightly-raced Emulous, who has a lot of scope for improvement and, ratings or no ratings, gets 10lbs from Beethoven.
Returning from a little break at the Curragh last month, she came to win over a furlong out, but tired in the closing stages and was beaten a length and a quarter into second by Latin Lover.
Emulous is entitled to come on for the run, she will certainly need to, and can benefit from dropping down a furlong in trip.
Dermot Weld trains Emulous and can also saddle Truth Seeking to win the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Fillies Maiden.
Truth Seeking was beaten by Hanakiyya in a moderate race at Naas ten days ago, but this an even worse heat.
Willie Mullins’ Apt Manor is the nap choice in the Harneys’ Of Dunhill Bumper at Tramore this evening.
Beaten by Natural High at the Galway Festival last year, she wasn’t seen again until returning to Ballybrit last month.
Apt Manor once more performed with promise, beaten three parts of a length by Fort Defiance, and the form was boosted when fourth placed Henro Boy scored at Downpatrick on Sunday.
