Pirro can storm home

John Oxx has the distinction of having trained the best ever McDonogh Handicap winner in Timarida and while Pirro is unlikely to reach the heights of his former stable companion, he could just be up to landing this year's Tuesday feature.

As with so many races at Galway, Dermot Weld's record in the £50,000 Listed race is enough to make most of his rivals blanch. Free To Speak's victory last year was Weld's sixth in the race and with the 1998 hero back along with Landing Slot, he clearly cannot be discounted again.

In contrast, Timarida was Oxx's sole winner but in hindsight what a certainty she was four years ago considering she progressed to winning an Irish Champion Stakes and an American Group One.

Pirro will never be as good but he showed enough in the Golden Pages at Leopardstown to suggest that this evening can become his career highlight.

Like so many in this field, Pirro encountered difficulties in the straight at Leopardstown but after being switched he ran well to be a close sixth. Draft Of Vintage, Golden Fact and Eternal Night finished ahead with the `97 McDonogh winner Wray and Royal South just behind.

It's worth wagering though that those well exposed horses do not have the potential improvement that Pirro has. He ran only twice at three, winning at the Curragh the second time, and from his three efforts this season, it appears that a stiff extended mile may be ideal.

The hill at Galway will certainly provide that and granted a reasonably clear passage, something admittedly that cannot be guaranteed in such a competitive contest, Pirro looks a value selection.

A possible favourite is Tiger Shark, Jim Bolger's Leopardstown winner that bypassed the Golden Pages, while Sligo based Michael McElhone would be a very popular winner should the admirably consistent Golden Fact come out ahead. A possible longer shot that will go well is Eternal Night.

The Weld factor, however, should come into play in some of the supporting races. Stage Affair is a very decent performer on the flat when at his best and has reportedly been schooling decently for his rider David Evans. Even an exhibition of a fraction of his flat speed will make him very hard to beat.

Weld runs two in the seven furlong maiden with the apparent stable choice being Pat Smullen's ride Touch Of Truth who should improve on a Gowran seventh to Aspen Leaves earlier in the season.

The Aidan O'Brien two-year-old factor can be dominant in the fillies maiden as the Ballydoyle trainer introduces the Sunday Silence filly Silence Beauty.