Halford mulls Curragh options

Mick Halford will wait to see what ground conditions are like before deciding which of his two representatives will run in the Goffs Flying Five Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday.

The County Kildare handler could run Curragh regular Snaefell, winner of the Phoenix Sprint Stakes on his last visit, or the prolific mare Invincible Ash, winner of her last three races.

While Halford’s pair are two of the best sprinters in Ireland, 17 of the 24 entries hail from England.

“Both have a preference for different ground. The quicker the better for Invincible Ash while Snaefell is probably better with a little ease, so if it suits one it might not suit the other,” said Halford.

“Snaefell has been a great servant but he’s probably better over six furlongs nowadays. We’ll just see which way the ground falls.

“Invincible Ash is improving all the time too. She’d hold her own over five, well she would with the Irish sprinters, but I’m not so sure about the English ones.

“She’s really starting to hit form now and she’s working well. She’s in such good form and her confidence is high.

“Whichever way the ground falls, hopefully one of them would be competitive.”