Battler canget off themark for season
This is one of five handicaps on the seven-contest programme and is the sort of race-planning that makes you want to tear your hair out.
The selection won twice in 11 attempts last season, but has failed to deliver on 14 occasions so far this campaign.
The three-year-olds latest performance was, however, undoubtedly his most promising so far and, maybe, the best is yet to come.
At Galway on Saturday, Michael Mulvany’s charge finished with a flourish at the end of seven furlongs when beaten a neck into second place by English challenger, Kevin Ryan’s Pintura.
That was far more competitive than this and Battleroftheboyne was racing from 2lbs out of the handicap.
Add in the fact he goes up by 6lbs in the future and it all points to him having a real life now.
Andrew Oliver’s Cut Me Loose is the fancy in the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Auction Maiden.
He dead-heated for third with stable companion, First Cornerstone, behind Washboard Sam at Down Royal and can reverse placings with Strapless (rec. 18lbs), who was a neck in front of him in second.
Black Benny might be the answer to the Sligo Apprentice Maiden over a mile and a half.
Shane Broderick’s seven-year-old has developed into a useful enough sort over flights, staying on strongly to win a handicap at Killarney on his latest appearance.
