Harpist can hit right chord
The bulk of the card is made up of four handicaps, three of them of the awful variety, and it’s a programme that is largely of no use to either bookmaker or punter.
Easily the most interesting horse on show will be Aidan O’Brien’s newcomer, Indian Maharaja, in the seven furlongs Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Maiden.
He is bred to be a champion, being by the great Galileo out of Again. David Wachman trained Again, who won the Moyglare Stud Stakes and the Irish 1000 Guineas, both at the Curragh.
On pedigree, Indian Maharaja is impossible to oppose and, chances are, will go off a warm favourite.
Wachman’s Harpist will surely be at more lucrative odds in the Centenary Year 2014 Maiden and gets the nap.
Essentially, the daughter of Danehill Dancer has been disappointing, but this does represent a decent opportunity.
She was a costly failure on her latest appearance, when a heavily backed favourite at Leopardstown last month.
The selection could only manage third behind Point Piper and Shouranour, after holding every chance in the straight.
That still seems the best form facing into this modest affair and Harpist gets the vote, dropping down a furlong in trip, which should help, and from a favourable draw in five.
They are a motley bunch in the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Fillies Maiden, with the hopeful nod falling on Always Annie, who made a reasonably promising start when fourth behind Dermot Weld’s Khothry at Limerick.
Morning With Ivan, who ran far too freely for his 10lbs claiming rider when fifth to Zalty at Leopardstown, is the choice in a very tricky seven-runner Gowran Gathering Wednesday August 14th Handicap.
