Progressive Groomed looks the part
Successful twice on the flat for William Haggas in England, he has been showing steady improvement over jumps and should go close.
At Wexford last time, the selection was beaten two and three quarter lengths into second by hot-pot, Darwins Theory, and had one of his main rivals now, Red Calima, three parts of a length behind in third.
There was plenty to like about the way Groomed stuck to his task, having struggled in the testing conditions, and the more the surface dries out the more confident one would be.
The John Halley-trained Dearest Girl, a winner on the level for Charles O’Brien, gets the nod in the www.tramore-racecourse.com Maiden Hurdle.
The daughter of Galileo ran a cracker when a close fourth behind Galianna at Navan, with the subsequent winner, Cnoc Seoda, in second.
At Leopardstown tomorrow, Fire Lily has be the choice in the 1000 Guineas Trial Stakes, particularly with David Wachman’s charges in fine form at the moment.
She produced a series of excellent performances last season, ending with a creditable second to John Gosden’s Elusive Kate in the Prix Marcel Boussac at Longchamp in October.
The 2000 Guineas Trial has cut up badly and should go to Aidan O’Brien’s Furner’s Green, even if the yard is taking its time hitting any sort of form.
At least Furner’s Green has the benefit of a previous outing this season, taking second behind Jim Bolger’s Light Heavy on this track last month.
O’Brien’s Forester, third to Dawn Approach at the Curragh, has a head to find with the second, Canary Row, and is fancied to reverse placings in the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Maiden.
Famous Name and Sharestan, both would be suited by an ease in the ground, promise a fascinating tussle in the Heritage Stakes.
Famous Name is a class act, in his own league, but preference is for Sharestan, who is entitled to strip fitter, having landed the Irish Lincoln at the Curragh three weeks ago.
At Tramore tomorrow Mazuri Cowboy can leave a below-par effort at Thurles behind in the Family Fun Day Maiden Hurdle.
