Dermot Weld's Bold Raparee, racing under the banner of an Italian stable, goes on a redeeming mission in the Group Two Premio Guido Berardelli (9f) in Rome tomorrow. Pat Shanahan's mount was a disappointing eighth in the Gran Criterium in Milan last month, but there were mitigating circumstances for that defeat as the Listowel winner missed the break in a race won impressively by Lend A Hand.
The Irish runner deserves another chance and may have most to fear from Peter ChappleHyam's Casino King (John Reid) in the 13-runner field. Casino King ran third to the subsequent Racing Post Trophy second, Mudeer, at Ascot last time.
Shanahan has also been booked to ride the useful French sprinter Wardara in the Group Three Premio Umbria over six furlongs. The prolific British mare, Hever Golf Rose, the Royal Ascot-winning Don't Worry Me and top Italian horse Armando Carpio, look the ones to beat here.
Ireland claimed its first success in the Sporting Index Cross Country Chase when the Edna Bolger-trained Fiftysevenchannels snatched victory from the Czechs at Cheltenham yesterday.A well-timed burst from jockey Ken Whelan earned a neck triumph in the closest finish yet for £25,000 contest from Peruan and Market Place, two of the three challengers from the Czech Republic.It was Whelan's first winner at Cheltenham since landing last year's Kim Muir on Stop the Waller during a 10-month stint in England.The novelty event is competed over a three miles seven furlongs course of 30 obstacles made up of banks, hedges, ditches, rails, fences and hurdles.
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