Conditions should suit Whipless

SUNDAY’S MEETINGS: WHIPLESS HAS topweight in tomorrow’s prestigious €70,000 Derrinstown Stud Birdcatcher Nursery at Naas but…

SUNDAY'S MEETINGS:WHIPLESS HAS topweight in tomorrow's prestigious €70,000 Derrinstown Stud Birdcatcher Nursery at Naas but very different conditions to what he encountered in France a fortnight ago could prove the key to his success.

Jim Bolger’s juvenile beat just one home in the Group One Prix Jean Luc Lagadere but he was probably unsuited by the very soft ground at Longchamp which was very different to what he won on at the Curragh in August.

Crucially that victory came at six furlongs which was a drop back in trip from his debut and the drop back again can prove to Whipless’s advantage.

The Jim Bolger-Kevin Manning team are running Whipless back in a handicap which considering they have won the Birdcatcher seven times before looks significant.

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Latin Love beat Emulous at the Curragh during the summer but it looks like being a different story in tomorrow’s Garnet Stakes based on an impressive victory by Dermot Weld’s filly at Tipperary a couple of weeks ago.

The subsequent 2,000 Guineas winner Footstepsinthesand won tomorrow’s opener on his debut six years ago and his son Ruling looks an interesting contender this time.

Johnny Murtagh is also on an eye-catching newcomer in the fillies maiden where Compelling, a daughter of Kingmambo and Damson, could be a danger to Vastitas.

Noel Meade wasn’t too impressed with Paul Carberry’s ride on Dark Prospect at Roscommon last time out but the former champion jockey can atone for that in the conditions hurdle.

Green To Gold won well at Punchestown on Wednesday and Christy Roche sends the grey out again for tomorrow’s two-mile handicap hurdle at Cork under a 6lb penalty.

Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor is the racing correspondent of The Irish Times. He also writes the Tipping Point column