PRIORY BELLE, last year's Moyglare Stud Stakes winner, makes her reappearance in the Athasi Stakes at the Curragh this afternoon. She is still engaged in the English 1,000 Guineas and while her trainer, Jim Bolger, is "taking one race at a time", a crack at the Newmarket race is still a possibility.
The Moyglare turned out to a fairly rough race and there was couple of hard luck stories afterwards. But Priory Belle, stepping up considerably on her previous form, could do no more than win, and it will be interesting how to see how she progresses this season.
The concession of 6lb to all of her rivals except the lone older challenger. Marqueta, means she faces an extremely tough test in what should be extremely testing conditions. She has yet to race on anything but good ground but her trainer appears confident that she will handle the mud.
The two Oxx fillies, Zafzala and Asmara, showed useful form last season, while Aidan O'Brien's Magarah ran far below expectations when fourth to the English challenger, Thrilling Day, at the Curragh in September. Priory Belle is the selection.
Definite Article, the Budweiser Irish Derby runner up, should be a force in the leading European races this term. He is unlikely to be hard pressed to win the Moorebridge Stakes, although Bolger's Al Mohaajir is a tough performer.
Flame Of Athens is an absentee from the Lexus Tetrarch Stakes, leaving the way clear for Force Of Will, third to Danehill Dancer in the National Stakes. In that Group One contest, the Diesis colt looked to be outpaced but ran on strongly close home to snatch third place. It will be disappointing if he cannot account for the English challenger, Gothenberg.
Megascene carried 1lb overweight when beaten a short head by Pegwood at the last Curragh meeting. She coped well with soft ground at Leopardstown earlier and, with her rider claiming a valuable 6lb, is napped to beat the veteran The Bower in the Liffey Handicap.
Listowel's two day meeting kicks off with a Jackpot carry over of almost £4,000 and a £12,000 pool has been guaranteed. The Willie Mullins trained Lady Quayside may be the answer in the opening leg today following a less than trouble free run when a close second to Letterice at Ballinrobe.
A good fourth over hurdles at Naas to Majestic Paddy, Tale Gail subsequently ran well in a bumper. He may have the beating of Tarajan in the second division of the Kerry Spring Water Maiden Hurdle. The opening division is left to Friarstown Duke, who is overdue a win in this class.
Tomorrow, Amontillado, following two fine Curragh runs, is napped to take the John J Galvin Race.
. Alderbrook, winner of the Champion Hurdle last year and runner up this season, will be retired after one more crack at the title. Trainer Kim Bailey said yesterday: "He's probably only got three more races in him and next season will definitely be his last whatever happens. But if someone came to make an offer as a stallion he might go earlier."
