Bolger's dominance under threat

Certain people can become synonymous with certain races, but rarely in the way Jim Bolger is identified with today's Golden Pages Handicap.

The Coolcullen-based trainer has won the £50,000 feature a remarkable seven times in the last 11 years, including three times (1996, 1997 and 1999) with the hardy veteran Graduated.

Not only that, but mention the seven to Bolger and you will more than likely receive a "we wuz robbed" swipe at the stewards who demoted his horse Jazz Me Blues from first place in 1984.

It's a race record that maybe Arthur Moore can echo over the jumps in the former Ladbroke/Sweeps Hurdle or Dermot Weld in that two-year-old maiden at the Galway festival. But the Golden Pages invariably means the spotlight is on Bolger, and so it is again today.

He runs the three-year-old Citizen Edward, who arrives here on a roll having won his last three races, including two over the Leopardstown track.

Throw in the presence of the talented claiming apprentice Wayne Lordan on his back, and Bolger's vice-like grip on the race, and it's clear that the bookies will be taking no chances with Citizen Edward.

How much of that respect will be due to the Bolger factor is debatable, but what is clear is that, as progressive as Citizen Edward is, he is still racing from out of the handicap and some of the placed horses behind him recently, such as Abaco and Dromhall Lady, have hardly boosted the form substantially.

Respect but not fear should be the attitude to Citizen Edward and maybe an investment elsewhere on Anna Elise can prove to be the value alternative.

A six furlong winner at the Curragh on her first start of this season, Anna Elise is nevertheless proven over a mile-and-a-quarter and comes here with proven form against the likes of last year's third Golden Fact and the Cambridgeshire winner She's Our Mare.

Anna Elise led home those two at the Curragh last time when runner-up to Rush Brook, and while the latter won easily, everything went right for him on the day, unlike Anna Elise, who looked to be in front long enough over such a tough track.

She does like to take a prominent position however, so trouble in running today should not be an issue. If Niall McCullagh can secure enough cover for Anna Elise early in the straight, she looks a decent bet to record a valuable win for the John Flynn yard.

Dermot Weld has a pretty decent Golden Pages record, having won it three times courtesy of Pre-Eminent, Ardalaun and Indian Guard, but while he may be out of luck in the feature, the Curragh trainer can pick up another couple of winners.

The Sadlers Wells filly Tobaranama gets a lot of weight from the high class pair of Royal Rebel and Urban Ocean in the Listed Challenge Stakes and should relish the mile-and-three-quarter trip, while Celtic Lore ran well enough behind Crystal Springs at the Curragh to merit attention in the mile-and-five handicap.

Regal Ash showed a lot of speed when breaking her duck at Navan, and while she could subsequently only finish sixth to Namid at Cork, that was a much tougher race than today's opener.

Aidan O'Brien introduces Martinelli, a son of Thunder Gulch, and the remarkably successful mare Fall Aspen, in the seven-furlong maiden and, on breeding alone, this one will be hard to beat.

Breeding however doesn't count for everything. If it did, Wemyss Guest, a son of Rainbow Quest and the Irish Oaks winner Wemyss Bight (dam of Beat Hollow), wouldn't be running in the Bumper. He is competing however, and he can win it too, judged by his second to Dionisio at Sligo.