Montaigne can get off mark

John Murphy’s Avenue Montaigne, now that she has her sights considerably lowered, can land the nap in the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Median Auction Fillies Maiden at Dundalk tonight.

She cut little ice on her latest appearance, finishing fifth of six behind Terror in a Listed race at Newmarket last month. The selection is much better than that, however, as evidenced by a rating of 94. Prior to Newmarket, for instance, Avenue Montaigne contested another Listed event, taking a creditable fourth behind Ger Lyons’ Ainippe at the Curragh.

The furthest the daughter of Showcasing has run over so far is six furlongs, but her pedigree suggests stepping up in trip will be a plus and this seven furlongs should prove ideal.