Excuse Me Sir best

Excuse me sir was mounting a challenge to Scallybuck in the Listowel Arms Handicap Chase last month when he blundered at the second last fence and thereafter the leader was gone beyond recall, winning by four and a half lengths.

The pair meet this afternoon in the Claremorris Handicap Chase at Ballinrobe when Excuse Me Sir is napped as he meets Scallybuck on 6lb better terms.

A further plus is that he is the only member of the top six in this handicap who has been in action since July, and the majority have not raced since the spring.

Francis Flood has coaxed his team back into winning form in recent weeks and Star Storm (4-0) and Our Joe (5-30) have the makings of a stable double.

Although Star Storm had only two behind him four from home in a Downpatrick handicap hurdle, the entire field was pretty closely bunched and he picked up quickly to join the leaders. But he only asserted his authority close home to win by two and a half lengths from Penzita.

The latest runs by Our Joe have been uninspiring but reverting to his last placing when third in a Dundalk bumper won by Monty Fox, he would be a hard nut to crack. Dr Torus, who was fifth on that occasion, has won in the meantime.

Paul Carberry and Norman Williamson both have useful books of rides for the afternoon, and Carberry should be the first strike through the medium of Sungazer, who is by Sunshine Forever, the sire also of Noel Meade's best-ever flat campaigner Sunshine Street.

There was a tip for him on his jumping debut, but his moderate run behind High Stakes at Fairyhouse was put well behind when he ran the winner to one and a half lengths on their second encounter at Gowran Park last week.

Michael Hourigan provides Williamson with four of his five mounts during the day and will be disappointed if Fornaught Alliance is unable to recoup Listowel losses when he turns out for the Westport Maiden Hurdle.

Even though Fornaught Alliance had not run since mid May, he was a well backed favourite but failed by two lengths to get on terms with Eduardo, who was Williamson's ride on that occasion.

Night Style, trained at Newmarket by Ed Dunlop, won Italy's top juvenile prize, the Group One Gran Criterium over a mile in Milan yesterday. Gary Carter's mount held on by a half a length from the Sean Wood-trained Winning Venture, who in turn was two and a quarter lengths in front of Maichael Bell's Whyome.

However, the second and third placings were reversed following a stewards' inquiry, as Winning Venture had hung across Wyhome, hampering him in the process. His jockey, John Reid, was handed a five-day ban (October 26th to October 30th).