Scottish Memories to relish challenge

Fran Berry can cut Jamie Spencer's lead at the top of the apprentice table even further at Fairyhouse today as the young rider looks to have prospects of a treble.

That would be one better than Berry achieved on Thursday evening at Tipperary when a double brought his career total to 95 and his score for this term to 29.

That places him fifth in the general jockeys table but still seven behind Spencer. With Berry's book today however, the leader could start looking over his shoulder.

Top of Berry's list looks to be Scottish Memories in the Ratoath Maiden. Formerly trained by Frank Ennis, Scottish Memories looked to be one of the better maidens in the country at the start of the season after some excellent placed efforts as a juvenile.

They undoubtedly contributed to an expensive buy out of the Ennis yard by Dr Tony O'Reilly but Scottish Memories let the new side down somewhat when only sixth to Young American at the Curragh in June.

The gelding gave the impression that he was not at a peak for that contest however and although he hasn't raced since, he should have benefited from a break and a settling in period.

If he has, Scottish Memories' official rating of 99 sees him with a clear chance of winning here. He should relish the new stamina challenge and the presence of the Aidan O'Brien trained Peach Out Of Reach (rated 90) and John Oxx's Hirapour should ensure a reasonable price. It may be a price worth taking.

Berry also has an obvious chance on Noel Meade's McCracken in a weak looking Skreen Maiden as this one ran a reasonable last race behind Canaletto at Leopardstown while a repeat of Common Kris's nine length demolition of a Roscommon field is unlikely in the Glascairn Handicap but a short head is just as effective as nine.

The feature on the card is the Listed Belgrave Stakes which puts the hardy handicapper Tarry Flynn in as the highest rated in the field. Dermot Weld's stable jockey Pat Smullen is on stable companion Pharmacist but the O'Brien trained Oyster Catcher is put forward as the likely winner.

The Scurrys winner is 5lbs better off for the length and a half she finished behind Pharmacist at the Curragh in the Rockingham, an event that now looks even stronger following Proud Native's third placing in York's Nunthorpe.

Oyster Catcher looked very unlucky behind Remarkable Style and Beckon The King at Leopardstown last time when unable to secure a run at a vital stage and can just get the edge here in what should be a tight contest.