Top line up for Gallinule Stakes

The feature race this weekend is the Group Three Patrick P O'Leary Memorial Gallinule Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday, which has attracted a competitive looking six runner line up.

Jim Bolger's Napper Tandy, who was far from disgraced in the Irish 2000 Guineas, had previously finished a creditable fourth to Alamshar in the Derrinstown Derby Trial on his seasonal

reappearance and that form may get a timely boost should John Oxx's colt provide that Leopardstown race with it's fourth Epsom Derby winner in a row on Saturday afternoon.

Regarded by Bolger as his best since St Jovite, this son of Spectrum should not be troubled by the yielding to soft conditions and looks capable of beating the progressive Tipperary All Star and

Handel to prove best of the home team.

The sole British raider is Nysaean, fourth in last season's Irish Derby and already the impressive winner this year of the Group Three Mooresbridge Stakes over Sunday's course and distance.

The form of that race has been boosted by the subsequent victories of runner-up Mkuzi and third-placed Miss Honorine and Richard Hannon's four-year- old looksthe one to beat and lead home Napper Tandy.

John Oxx and Johnny Murtagh look to have a strong hand in both the three-year-old and up maidens with Amandian, second when favourite on her debut at Gowran Park, looking the one to be on in the K & M Timber Maiden in which Red Titian and Graceunderpressure may give her most to do.

The concluding Joe Morrissey Maiden looks a good opportunity for Icklingham, who has been narrowly beaten on his latest starts and can finally gets his nose in front with the assistance of first time blinkers.

Michael Grassick's team have been in flying form this season and given Irish Empire's fine Curragh record in may prove profitable to side with the five-year-old, who will have the added bonus of Davy Condon's valuable 5lb claim in the Thomas Whiteley Memorial Handicap.

BEST BETS

2.30: Denver

3.00: Amandian

4.00: Nysaean

5.00: Irish Empire

5.30: Icklingham

First Race: 1.30pm.