Scandi Noir can strike for Harrington in opening race at Fairyhouse
LEADING CLAIMS: Trainer Jessica Harrington can strike in the opening race at Fairyhouse on Wednesday. Picture: Laszlo Geczo/Inpho
The Jessica Harrington-trained Scandi Noir can build on a promising debut to win the Irish EBF Median Sires Series Race, the opening contest at Fairyhouse on Wednesday evening.
The Minzaal filly outran odds of 33-1 to finish third at Cork first time out last month, going down by two and a quarter lengths to Ballinea Star, a filly who gave the form a significant boost by winning the Group 3 Anglesey Stakes at the Curragh last Saturday.
And with her first run under her belt, Scandi Noir should be more streetwise this time around. If that proves the case, she should prove a tough nut to crack unless newcomer Alwaysanangel, a Harry Angel filly trained by Joseph O’Brien, proves above average.
Alwaysanangel’s stablemate Pleased looks the one to beat in the finale, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden.
Third on debut at Limerick in April, the Camelot filly improved to finish second to Arrietty, another stablemate, at the Curragh last month. If she can’t take a similar step forward here, she should make it third time lucky.
Johnny Murtagh has some decent chances among his five runners, perhaps most notably Treasure Rose in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Handicap.
The daughter of Inns Of Court got off the mark at the 10th time of asking at Down Royal 12 days ago, a long-overdue success for a horse who had finished second in five of her previous nine career starts.
A 3lb rise for that breakthrough win doesn't look excessive and she may be able to complete a quickfire double.
The Dino Day At Fairyhouse On July 8th Apprentice Handicap looks a tricky puzzle but the Murtagh-trained Lady Kelly ran well when a close third on the same Down Royal card Treasure Rose won on and she may not need to improve much on that effort to make the breakthrough here.
5.05 Scandi Noir (Nap)
5.40 Lady Kelly
6.10 Treasure Rose
6.45 Queen Aethelflaed
7.20 Hippology
7.55 Bella Colombia
8.30 Pleased (NB)
5.05 Alwaysanangel
5.40 She's On The Ball
6.10 Hugo's Girl
6.45 Hasita
7.20 Cisterna
7.55 Launch Time
8.30 Vanir
