Weighed-up option of Doonaree looks best

RACING: The Tralee authorities said last night they are optimistic the track will pass a 7.30 inspection this morning.

A Turf Club spokesman stressed the inspection was precautionary and that, although the ground remains heavy, fresh going will be available for the third day of the festival.

The testing conditions, however, mean that every pound will count in today's Guinness Gold Cup and Doonaree looks at the right end of the handicap to succeed.

This will be Doonaree's second start of the festival and he was running well on Monday when finding only Arachine too good.

That run came on the back of a decent fourth to Orpington at Gowran and the horse is clearly running back into top form at just the right time.

Dermot Weld won this prestigious handicap with the legendary Vintage Crop in 1992 and this time he is represented by Former Senator, who again meets High Priestess and Athlumney Lad as when they clashed at Galway.

The ground looks to have gone for the latter and, although High Priestess emerged best at Ballybrit, Former Senator now enjoys a significant pull at the weights. But the Weld runner will do well to concede weight to Doonaree in these conditions.

Weld and Pat Smullen should, however, have better luck earlier in the afternoon.

Indian Pace just has the edge on Freud Bacon on ratings in the mile maiden and the son of Indian Ridge should relish the drop in trip from his last start.

Mohawk Star is another son of Indian Ridge and, as with many of that sire's stock, he appeared to relish some give in the ground when easily scoring at Leopardstown in March.

A drop in trip to six furlongs after that didn't work but he ran better over a mile at Galway and the same trip should be ideal in the day's first handicap.

Fit The Cove won well in testing conditions at Tipperary last week but that was over seven furlongs which looks that one's best distance.

Camouflage followed up his debut with a fifth to Damson in the Phoenix Stakes but Kevin Prendergast's colt will never have experienced ground like this in the opening auction maiden.

In contrast Fuensanta, who will be Kevin Manning's first ride back since picking up an injury at Galway, ran a fine second to Falstaff at Tipperary on soft ground and she can give her jockey the ideal comeback mount.