Latin Love most likely to improve

CORK PREVIEW: DAVID WACHMAN can warm up for Royal Ascot next week with a Group Three success at Cork tomorrow, where Latin Love…

CORK PREVIEW:DAVID WACHMAN can warm up for Royal Ascot next week with a Group Three success at Cork tomorrow, where Latin Love heads the trainer's three runners in the Kerry Group Noblesse Stakes.

Always Beautiful and Silk Mascara complete Wachman’s team in a 13-strong field that sees last November’s Melbourne Cup fifth, Profound Beauty, have her first start since Flemington.

Yorkshire-based Kevin Ryan sends Les Fazzani back for a second start in Ireland this season, while John Oxx is also triple-handed, with Mick Kinane on board Roses For The Lady.

But Wayne Lordan’s mount Latin Love could be the filly open to the most improvement.

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The Noblesse will be just her fourth start and the first time she has encountered something other than heavy ground. On her sole start this season, Latin Love finished a long way off the older fillies, She’s Our Mark and Chinese White, at Gowran, but on different ground the daughter of Danehill Dancer can step up on that.

A pair of cross-sea raiders, Roi de Vitesse and Avonrose, tackle the Listed Rochestown Stakes, but they look to have it all to do against Love Lockdown from the in-form Ger Lyons stable.

The Verglas gelding edged out Aidan O’Brien’s Beethoven at Naas last time when there was nine lengths to the third. Before that, Love Lockdown won easily at Leopardstown and any ease in the going won’t bother him.

Lyons and his South African jockey, Keegan Latham, can also go close in the mile maiden with the Fairyhouse third Cheveyo, while Qadar could reverse Leopardstown form in the last with Dinah Doll on the back of a 4lb pull in the weights.

Qadar’s jockey, Fran Berry, is reunited with the veteran sprinter Osterhase, who hasn’t won since July of 2006 but who led for much of his last race at York, only to give way close home. The extra furlong of this conditions sprint may suit the 10-year-old.

Jamadiel won impressively the last time he tackled tomorrow’s course and distance at Downpatrick and a 9lb penalty may not stop him doing the same now.

Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor

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