Dermot Weld has turned down the chance to run Media Puzzle in Saturday's Vodafone Epsom Derby but the Curragh trainer can hit the black type scoresheet with Tobaranama at Gowran Park this evening.
Media Puzzle, an £8,000 Epsom entry at April's second entry stage, worked satisfactorily yesterday morning but will now be trained for the Irish Derby on July 2nd.
"He went well this morning but needs a little more time," Weld said. "We had a slight hold up with Media Puzzle and instead of rushing him, we'll get him spot on for the Curragh race."
Weld's Irish 1,000 Guineas disappointment Theoretically features in the entries for Sunday's French Oaks at Chantilly but Weld said yesterday: "She will miss that and wait for the Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh."
Tobaranama improved significantly from one juvenile run at Dundalk to easily score at Cork early this season over nine furlongs and now steps up to the mile and a half of the Listed Victor McCalmont Stakes.
As a daughter of the champion sire Sadler's Wells, the hike up in trip should suit Tobaranama who Pat Smullen has chosen in preference to the other Sadler's Wells filly Catherina, and the forecast "yielding to soft" going shouldn't be a problem either.
It might, however, be an issue for the English raider Bedara who is sent over from Barry Hills's stable on the back of a fourth in the Lingfield Oaks Trial and a Warwick win.
The form of the Lingfield race doesn't look particularly strong with the winner Film Script not even entered at Epsom and this should be an all-Irish finish.
Sinndar's trainer John Oxx is doubly represented also but maybe an each way option against Tobaranama could be the Fairyhouse maiden winner Simplicity who is again ridden by the impressive Australian rider Damien Oliver.
Oxx must have a reasonable chance of winning, however, with the newcomer Kermiyana in a weak looking seven furlong maiden. As a daughter of Green Desert out of the speedy Keraka, the filly is certainly bred to be fast, a comment that also applies to the Aidan O'Brien trained Danehill colt Honours List in the opener.
Michael Kinane is an interesting booking for the ex-John McLoughlin trained Fast Responce in the nine furlong handicap. Now with Michael McCullagh, the Distinctly North filly looked a rangy type in four maidens last term and should have improved with time.
Ruby Walsh will be hoping for a happier time aboard Frostbitten in the handicap chase than he had at Navan in the race won by Torduff Boy. On that occasion Frostbitten was one of five horses on the day that slipped up on the turn into the straight.
Frostbitten was going pretty well at the time and should go close with a clear round now while the Charlie Swan-trained and ridden Strong Project could be the pick in the bumper.
