Manning to make hay

Ireland's top three jockeys are in action at Newmarket today and while they are away Kevin Manning can get down to some serious play.

Jim Bolger's stable jockey is on the 40 winner mark for the season which may pale in comparison with his 1996 total of 71 but is still a respectable score considering the local dominance of Pat Smullen, John Murtagh and Mick Kinane.

However, Manning looks to have very real chances in all three of the flat races at Gowran today and it cannot harm the punters faith in him that the rider has a fine record around the track.

Today he kicks off on the hardy Sparkling Harmony who won twice at Cork in the spring and with the ground soft again the five-year-old looks to hold a leading chance in the seven furlong handicap.

Dolydille has been something of a highlight for Manning and Bolger this year. The Dolphin Street filly scored a Listed victory at Galway last month and is now on a 104 rating after scoring at the Curragh last time. Dolydille has to give weight away in the Cordell Lavarack Stakes but is twice a track winner and she is proven on soft ground.

Sephora, Manning's mount in the Nursery, won at Fairyhouse last time from Always Rainbows and could be up to following up.

The Liverpool victor Sackville makes his chasing debut in the Beginners Chase and Barry Geraghty's mount, twice a Gowran winner already, should be hard to beat if taking to the fences while the Punchestown winner Liss A Paoraigh is hard to ignore in the first division of the maiden hurdle.

The Cushman ran a fine race behind Hip Pocket in a two mile flat race at Thurles last week and is just 2lb out of the weights proper for the three mile handicap hurdle. The nine-year-old could be the each way value of the race.