Sea Leopard can put Galway run behind him

This week's eight fixtures, thrown on top of last week's 10, confirms the current racing glut but even with Dundalk and Tramore today, it would be a mistake to miss the wood for the trees.

Dragon Century and Sea Leopard in particular have been expensive for this column in recent weeks but at Dundalk pay day looks set to arrive. Sea Leopard's encouraging effort at Killarney last month encouraged us to plump for him in six furlong races at Ballinrobe and Galway but now over the mile of the Ballagan Handicap, and with Pat Smullen on board, he can deliver.

The Ballinrobe track was probably too sharp when Harlenog beat Sea Leopard by three-quarters of a length and at Galway he was hampered at a critical stage when sixth to Benefits Galore.

Joking Rebuff and Mick Kinane's mount Silver Spray finished ahead on that occasion but Sea Leopard looks to have been crying out for the trip over which he won twice last year and can reverse the form over the longer distance.

Dragon Century, after an 18-month absence, ran a blinder at Galway and then was fancied to score at Roscommon last week only to be just foiled by Consalvo. Jim Gorman's injury-plagued horse has topweight in the Highfield Handicap but could still be on the improve for his two recent races and should be suited by the hike up to two miles.

Summer Stock, as a son of Theatrical, should thrive on the forecast firm ground in the mile maiden while the Sligo winner Laura Supreme can follow up in the handicap hurdle.

A trio of the season's top apprentices look worth following at Tramore. Tom Queally has had 10 winners from his 100 plus rides already this season and can double up on the Pat Flynn pair Pilgrim Star and Rainbow Realm.

Pilgrim Star just got edged out by Consalvo at Roscommon when dead-heating with the afore-mentioned Dragon Century and can score in the Glenpatrick Handicap but Rainbow Realm could be worth a significant look now that it's being raised to the mile and a half of the appropriately named Queally Handicap.

Michael Halford's apprentice Tadhg O'Shea has scored eight times this year and maybe his ride, Nellie Gannon, could be up to winning a poor mile and a half maiden while Wayne Lordan, on the seven mark, is speculative choice to win on Feelin' Looser in the Dawn Handicap.