Spring Is Here can bring joy
Trainer Joseph O'Brien may have a good outing at Dundalk today. File Pic: Healy Racing
The Joseph O’Brien-trained class-dropper Spring Is Here, back after a break, is difficult to oppose in today’s Dundalk opener, the five-furlong View Restaurant At Dundalk Stadium Maiden.
A €225,000 daughter of Starspangledbanner, she ran three times as a juvenile, showing plenty of promise, and, although off the track since early July, should outclass this field.
Spring Is Here, who carries the colours of Michael Burke, successful on Leader D’allier at Punchestown on Monday, competed in listed company on two of her three starts and, currently rated 88, would set a high standard in any maiden.
Pitched into stakes company for her debut in the listed First Flier at the Curragh last May, she caught the eye in finishing fourth behind the speedy Lady Iman.
She failed to build on that promise when third to the progressive Rogue Legend at Tipperary three weeks later. On her final juvenile start, returned to Tipperary for the listed Tipperary Stakes in early July, when she had to settle for fourth spot behind Arugam Bay.
Given time to mature and strengthen, Spring Is Here is returning from a 210-day absence but, sure to be primed for her return, should prove a cut above this opposition.
Danny Murphy’s consistent but frustrating This Guy, runner-up in his last three starts, most recently when turned over at 4/9, might follow the Carriganóg filly home.
Joseph O’Brien might also take the Book Online At DundalkStadium.com Maiden with 78-rated Arrietty, stepping-up in trip following his sixth to Blanc De Blanc here two weeks ago.
This Lope De Vega filly went into plenty of notebooks following her debut fourth behind Green Carrera in Thurles last October before travelling to Wolverhampton, where she chased home Tryst in a fillies novice. She was returning after a break when last seen and gave the impression that this longer trip might bring out some improvement.
On that basis, she gets the vote in a field which includes her interesting stable-companion Porter, sure to improve from his debut seventh and the mount of Declan McDonogh and Dermot Weld’s debutant Ghaiyyath Deer.
Few meetings at Dundalk pass without a winner for Ado McGuinness. And battle-hardened Exquisite Acclaim, a three-time winner on the polytrack, whose most recent success came on the beach at Laytown, appeals in the Leading Trainer & Jockey Championship Handicap.
This seven-year-old proved his current wellbeing when a clear second best behind Ocean Manifest in a mile handicap here less than two weeks ago.
And arguably better over this shorter trip, Adam Caffrey’s mount might return to winning ways.
2.32 Spring Is Here (Nap)
3.02 Sovereign Banter
3.32 Winemaker
4.02 Exquisite Acclaim (n.b.)
4.32 Arrietty
5.02 Tyraxes
5.37 The Real Screamer
2.32 Pass Me If You Can
3.02 Inishmot Prince
3.32 Mount Ruapehu
4.02 Brewing
4.32 Porter
5.02 Palmexxano
5.37 Cinammon Coco
