A confident vote is given to Gan Ainm

THE top-weight Gan Ainm, a course winner on her racecourse debut back in June, is put forward as the likely winner of the Waterford Crystal EBF Nursery Handicap at Gowran this afternoon.

Trained locally by Paddy Mullins, Gan Ainm led virtually for the whole seven furlongs on that first run and seemed set for further victories. Instead, she was a something of a disappointment on her only other start, dropping out tamely at the Curragh with two furlongs to go in the race won by Gunfire.

Although no excuses were offered afterwards, that was hardly her true running and she is a confident choice to beat Alparost, who set the pace in a high quality Curragh maiden won by his stablemate Sublime Beauty.

Identify has contested both the Epsom Oaks and the Austrian Derby since leaving the Jim Bolger stable to join Dermot Weld. She had earlier shaped like a high-class filly when trouncing Harghar at the Curragh and should be capable of holding off Matangi in the Denny Cordell Lavarack Memorial Fillies Race.

Keeping The Faith, seventh in the 30-strong Tattersalls Breeders Stakes, steps up to a mile for the first time in the EBF Fillies Maiden. She has been a most consistent filly and would certainly not be winning out of turn. The Aidan O'Brien newcomer, Moon Flower, is the probable danger.

Innovative, who dead heated on the Flat at Downpatrick on Friday, switches back to jumping in the Gowran Handicap Hurdle. His second to Crossfarnogue over 20 furlongs at Tipperary was a reasonable effort and he is preferred to Sudden Storm.

Flying In The Gale made a early departure at Kilbeggan when favourite, falling at the fourth This Strong Gale filly has bee performing quite well of late and may have her turn in the Milford Handicap Hurdle, in which Fraser Carey is another worth noting.

Crucial Move has switched stables since falling at Clonmel back in June when favourite. Now with Sean Treacy, who trains nearby, the Last Tycoon filly will be difficult to beat in the Bagenalstown Maiden Hurdle if finding she showed when runnner-up to Finchpalm at Wexford in May.

Templeorum was involved in a tremendous finish to a Wexford bumper on his debut, finishing less than half a length in fourth place after being in the lead with less than a 100 yards to cover. The first three all had the advantage of previous runs and Templeorum can show the benefit of that experience by landing the Dungarvan INH Flat Race.