Murtagh can strike before ban

THE ENGLISH mare Prescription can be just what the doctor ordered in this evening’s feature at Naas, where Johnny Murtagh could enjoy a bumper fixture on the eve of a six-day suspension.

The ban that rules Murtagh out of Saturday’s King George ride on Cape Blanco begins on Friday, but he has enough ammunition today to suggest he can make a move in the jockeys’ table before taking his enforced break.

Murtagh is on 47 winners for 2010 in Ireland, one behind Pat Smullen, and three behind championship leader Fran Berry.

Tom Sawyer is a Dansili newcomer in the opener, while Enchanted Forest and the Newmarket Guineas seventh Fencing Master are other serious Ballydoyle hopes in action this evening.

Throw in Eddie Lynam’s Gala Spirit and the Tipperary runner-up Anam Chara, who should benefit for a step up in trip in the finale, and Murtagh could be in for a very successful evening.

The champion jockey is on Bewitched in the Listed Sweet Mimosa Stakes, a race that has attracted Swiss Diva and Prescription from Britain.

Mark Prescott’s Irish raiders are always dangerous, and the Cheveley Park Stud-owned Prescription overcame trouble in running to beat the high-class Serious Attitude in a Listed event at Nottingham last time.

She also holds an entry in Saturday’s International Stakes at Ascot, but, significantly, Prescott has chosen this race and the recent rain should provide perfect ground for a daughter of Pivotal.

Ruby Walsh may be out of next week’s Galway festival but Davy Russell is confident he will be ready in time after recovering from a broken ankle sustained last month.

Russell rode in some schooling sessions at Tipperary yesterday and said: “I’ve got good strength in the ankle and I think I can justify the rides that I have.”