Friday racing: Nil Bua Gan Dua can claim Mallow maiden win
Joey Sheridan after winning the Your Game, Your Odds, Your 1xBet.ie Handicap with Arctic Assassin at Curragh Racecourse last weekend. Pic: Brian Lawless/PA Wire
Rated 101, Nil Bua Gan Dua, representing in-form Joseph O’Brien, sets a decent standard in the Welcome To Cork Racecourse Mallow Maiden which opens this evening’s card.
A son of American Pharoah, he competed in hot company in three starts as a juvenile and, although time will tell whether he can live up to his official rating, he should be good enough to land a maiden of this standard.
The Carriganog colt made his debut in a Curragh maiden in August, filling fourth spot behind Thread Of Gold.
He was then considered good enough to take his chance in the KPMG Champion Juvenile Stakes (Group 2), when he was one of two challengers for Joseph O’Brien.
He finished third of just four runners, beaten over five lengths, behind the impressive Benvenuto Cellini, a highly-regarded Ballydoyle colt who is due to have his Epsom Derby ‘prep’ in Chester.
And A Boy Named Susie, a short-head off the selection, acquitted himself well when third in the Group 3 ‘Ballysax’ at Leopardstown.
On his final juvenile start, Nil Bua Gan Dua was fifth to Christmas Day (won the recent ‘Ballysax’) in the Group 3 ‘Eyrefield’ at Leopardstown.
Bringing that sort of stakes-race form into this maiden, Nil Bua Gan Dua, the mount of Joey Sheridan, should take plenty of beating.
The same trainer/ rider combination might also take the median auction maiden with 102-rated The Publican’s Son, a creditable fifth behind Thesecretadversary in the recent 2,000 Guineas trial.
And Carriganog might also strike with Enceladus (Declan McDonogh) in the Social Packs From Just €30 Maiden over an extended mile and a quarter.
This Sea The Stars colt finished third in both starts at two, behind South island at the Curragh in September and in the Naasd maiden won by Cape Cod the following month.
He should develop into a solid staying performer and has been found an ideal starting-point for his three-year-old campaign.
Kilbeggan starts its summer programme with an extremely well-supported eight-race card.
And the Peter Fahey-trained Live To Laugh, in tremendous form over fences in recent weeks, will be expected to take advantage of a handy hurdle mark in the William Hill Challenge Series Handicap Hurdle.
This fellow won comfortably, off 94, at Thurles and followed-up off a 10lb. higher mark in Clonmel.
Now rated 112 over the bigger obstacles, he races here off 94 and should be tough to beat.
