Mid Flight can soar to victory
WEIGHTY TASK: Naomi Lapaglia en route to victory at Gowran Park in August. Conceding weight to her 13 rivals, she faces a tough task at Dundalk on Friday night. Picture: Healy Racing
The Ger Lyons-trained Mid Flight might step-up sufficiently on his debut run at Punchestown to land tonight’s Irish Stallion Farms 2-Y-0 Maiden in Dundalk.
This Juddmonte-owned Frankel colt was the subject of favourable reports ahead of his debut back in September but, realistically, was never competitive.
Caught at the back of the field, Colin Keane’s mount struggled around Punchestown’s bends and undulations, ultimately filling fifth spot, beaten eight and a half lengths, behind Port Of Spain and subsequent winner Cape Cod.
Mid Flight is almost certainly better than that run might suggest. Given time to recover and switching to the polytrack, he makes plenty of appeal in a field which includes some interesting newcomers.
Andy Oliver’s Santa Bravado, an eye-catcher when fifth to Acclamatic on his debut at the Curragh, might prove the biggest threat to the Glenburnie colt.
Tonight’s feature is the listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Cooley Fillies Stakes over a mile, a wide-open affair.
The Lyons-trained Naomi Lapaglia, winner of the listed Hurry Harriet in Gowran Park before failing to make an impact in the Blandford at the Curragh (behind Barnavara), must concede weight to her 13 rivals.
Preference is for Willie McCreery’s highly-tried but disappointing Jancis, close behind the top-weight when they finished third and fifth respectively behind Porta Fortuna in the Group 2 Lanwades Stud Stakes.
Jancis, without a win since taking the Brownstown at Leopardstown in July of last year, should be suited by this fast surface and, significantly, will wear a tongue-tie for the first time.
Billy Lee’s mount is a hopeful choice in a very competitive renewal of the Cooley.
Earlier, McCreery’s Lunigiana, a frustrating 11-race maiden and pipped by Glory To Be in Navan last time, might belatedly open her account in the five-furlong Christmas Party Nights At Dundalk Stadium Maiden.
And, although up 3lb for a neck defeat by Daamberdiplomat last time, Tokenomics might defy top-weight for David Marnane and Luke McAteer in the Bar One Racing Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap.
5.15 Lunigiana
5.45 Celtic Melody
6.15 Spy
6.45 Jancis
7.20 Mid Flight (Nap)
7.55 Tokenomics (NB)
8.30 Smaoineamh Sile
5.15 Astute Power
5.45 Astronomically
6.15 Benavente
6.45 Naomi Lapaglia
7.20 Santa Bravado
7.55 Hightimeyouwon
8.30 Johnny’s Oasis
