Miltonfield may cause a surprise

THERE have been better quality fields for Tralee's Carling Gold Cup, but at least today's renewal is a tightly-knitted handicap with a surprise result a definite possibility, especially if the going is dead after yesterday's drying winds.

Dermot Weld has an enviable record, winning the race four times in the last 12 years with Security Clearance, West China, Vintage Crop and Munif. He is represented today with Celtic Lore.

A tough four-year-old, Celtic Lore will stay every yard and he meets Sentosa Star 10lb better for less than a length beating at Killarney last month. However he appears to reserve his best form for food round.

John Oxx has declared no fewer than four runners, three of them three-year-olds and L'Opera is the choice of stable jockey John Murtagh. Indeed, L'Opera may prove the pick, though three-year-olds do not have a good record in the race.

John Mulhern, who won with Command `N' Control three years ago, has a nice chance with the seven-year-old Miltonfield who was short headed by Beakstown over hurdles on soft ground at Leopardstown in February.

He has been running consistently well in two mile handicaps, notably at the Curragh and Galway and at Leopardstown in June. divided Celtic Lore and Graduated in a QR race over today's distance, beating Celtic Lore a short head. He meets that horse on 7lb better terms and all going appears to come alike to him.

Omar, successful on soft ground at Sligo last time out, ran Celtic Lore to a length and a half in a QR race over this trip at Bellewstown has prospects of reversing the placings and I would not discount Theatreworld with his handy weight.

Taklif and Notcomplainingbut are others to note but in a difficult event I expect Miltonfield to run a big race.

The listed Beamish Stout Ruby Stakes has attracted last year's winner Al Mohaajir, whose trainer Jim Bolger also won with Thyer in 1992. Al Mohaajir returned to form when winning a similar race at Fairyhouse last time out.

Dermot Weld, successful with Committed Dancer (1991) and Kayfa (1994), runs Free To Speak who ran Idris to three-parts of a length in a listed race at Leopardstown in June. He was beaten a length by Al Mohaajir in this race last year but that was on fast ground and he is better suited to some give.