RACING PREVIEW:AIDAN O'BRIEN has opted to lower the sights of a couple of his Classic also-rans in the Gowran Park Race and Drumbeat will take a power of beating.
Placed in a couple of British trials in the spring, the Montjeu colt finished in mid-division in the Irish 2,000 Guineas and French Derby, before failing to beat a rival home in the Irish Derby. But this will be more to his liking, although stablemate Hail Caesar is a big threat in first-time blinkers.
O’Brien gives At First Sight his second outing in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden and he is expected to leave his average debut at the Curragh behind. Cool Marble was fourth to subsequent Listed scorer Perfect Symmetry at Leopardstown and is the chief threat.
The biggest prize of the evening goes to the winner of the Kilkenny Handicap and Toufan Express deserves a change of fortune after a string of placed efforts.
The application of blinkers could have the desired effect, but Belle’s Ridge will strip fitter for his recent reappearance, and a similar comment applies to Satu.
At Cork former top jumpers Ebaziyan and Essex lock horns in the EPS. Mallow Hurdle. The former didn’t take to fences, but his rival has less to prove on recent showings and is capable of rolling back the years.
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