Fairyhouse preview: Border Cat's attempt at ending a very good week could come unstuck at Fairyhouse today due to a combination of quick ground and a quick opponent in Glasog.
The David Wachman-trained colt carries a 5lb penalty for winning the Monday feature at the Listowel Festival but it's not the extra weight that could scupper his chances of a valuable double in this afternoon's €50,000 Premier Nursery.
Monday's win was over a mile and although Border Cat travelled supremely well throughout the race, this new assignment will be a very different kettle of fish.
There is also the likelihood that the forecast fast going will not be in his favour, considering Wachman told the Listowel stewards that cut in the ground was an important factor in his improved form.
All told the Storm Cat colt looks one to oppose and Glasog looks the one to do the opposing with. Jim Bolger's filly returned from a break to win by a head over five furlongs at Tipperary and although that was on soft ground she also had decent placed form on a fast surface.
Wachman and jockey Wayne Lordan could have better luck, however, in the earlier juvenile fillies maiden. Anna Karenina improved from her debut to run third behind the classic hope Chenchikova at Tipperary.
Dermot Weld's Stakes-placed Summer Scent sets a ratings benchmark on 90 but Anna Karenina looks a filly on the up.
There is another link to Chenchikova in the opening maiden for older fillies with the racecourse debut of the John Oxx-trained Helena Molony.
Like the Ballydoyle filly, Helena Molony is a full sister to the double Derby and double Breeders' Cup winner High Chaparral. A win today would make her a very valuable broodmare prospect and she will have Johnny Murtagh, reuniting with his old boss, in the plate.
It will be Murtagh's first appearance in Ireland since his return from a 21-day suspension and his second ride back also looks a promising one. Flashy Beau has topweight in the first division of the 10-furlong handicap but in a 36-60 race that might not matter as much as her current good form.
The Mallow-born apprentice Elizabeth Sheehan is the only jockey ever to win on Ucanstep and the combination picked up their fourth success at Listowel earlier in the week. They have a terrible draw in stall one in the apprentice handicap, however, and that could swing things the way of last weekend's Curragh winner Koukalova.
Tom Taaffe is more associated with the jumps scene but he has a talented two-year-old in Dryandara, whose debut run behind Oh How Lovely gives her a bit of a shout in the auction maiden. Rory Cleary's mount didn't figure in a valuable sales race behind Wake Up Maggie afterwards but she is worth another chance.
Blessyourpinksox is topweight for the concluding handicap but Pelagias Star's run behind Briolette at Leopardstown looks a good piece of form.
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