Pixie the pick
The daughter of Verglas ran with real promise on her debut at Fairyhouse and can be confidently expected to build on that.
Pixie Hollow didn’t enjoy a clear run over a furlong down, but stayed on steadily in the closing stages to finish a length and a quarter and a short head third behind David Marnane’s newcomer, Boom The Groom, and Willie McCreery’s useful, Colour Blue.
Harlem Shake ran well when grabbed late and beaten half a length into second by Ava Star at Down Royal, but has now had lots of chances and the selection seems to have far more scope for improvement.
Oliver Brady’s Zafarqand has been running consistently of late and should find the opposition to his liking in the Martin Reilly Motors Mini Dealer Sligo Apprentice Maiden.
The very talented Connor King has ridden him in his last two races and, thankfully, the partnership remains intact.
Zafarqand was beaten half a length by Kingdom at Fairyhouse, before finishing a close third behind Leah Claire and Cebuano at Leopardstown.
Johnny Murtagh has been booked for Fleur de Nuit, in the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Connacht Oaks Fillies Handicap, and the eight-year-old gets the vote.
John Bleahen’s charge should have had little or no chance at the weights in a conditions event at Galway last Friday night, but almost shocked hot pot, Unaccompanied.
It was well into the final furlong before she gave best, eventually going under by a length. Fleur de Nuit goes up 6lbs in the future.
