Racing News: The Grand National-winner Monty's Pass is tomorrow set to get his first sight of a racecourse since Aintree but the centrepiece of Cork's card will still be the Group Three Ballyogan Stakes.
Just five line up for the valuable sprint with Miss Anabaa making a second trip to Ireland in less than a fortnight from Rae Guest's Newmarket yard.
The previous journey yielded a Listed success at Naas when the four-year-old just held off her compatriot Dragon Flyer. It was a result that hardly advertised the merits of most of the sprinting talent in Ireland this year and despite the presence of Marino Marini and the former Australian champion Belle Du Jour, Miss Anabaa could hammer the point home again. Marino Marini hasn't run since failing to stay in the Gladness Stakes in April and his rating makes a pretty convincing argument.
However the figure doesn't show how the forecast "yielding-to-soft" going might impact on him, or on Belle Du Jour, while a dig in the going is exactly what Miss Anabaa wants. Throw in proven recent form and the English raider could be a bet.
Monty's Pass goes in the Charity Race and the victory of former Gold Cup hero Looks Like Trouble in a similar race at Newbury on Thursday proves staying chasers are no back numbers in these contests.
Back on the sprint track there is an interesting race in store for the six-furlong handicap.
Wednesday's Leopardstown winner Definite Spectacle has a 5lb penalty for his win over seven furlongs and his presence keeps the course and distance winner Nathan Jones on a reasonable weight.
The same comment applies to another course and distance winner in the veteran Miracle Ridge whose trainer Jim Gorman has kept a steady flow of winners going from his Curragh base this term. A fifth to Cool Cousin last time proves this horse is no back number.
Twice a winner on the track, Bregogue should go close in the handicap chase while it's hard to ignore Catalpa Cargo's hat-trick claims in the conditions chase.
Roscommon start their own two-day fixture tomorrow and the JP McManus colours look set to enter the winners enclosure courtesy of Puck Out in the conditions hurdle. The Roche runner, a winner at Galway and Ballinrobe, ran an eye-catching race on the flat at Leopardstown last week behind Royal Alphaet and Really.
The novice chase could be fought out by another McManus runner in Janidou and the Galway Hurdle hero Say Again whose last chase start was a second at Tramore. Janidou's 6lb weight concession could swing things.
The John Oxx yard introduce the Priolo newcomer Rihana in the fillies maiden and that one could be chasing an Oxx double as the 96-rated Masandam can take care of the Curragh winner Irish Empire in the Budweiser Race.
