THE unique event that is Laytown takes place again this evening after the retreating tide has allowed the world's only beach race meeting to be set up.
The resultant vista of thorough-breds racing spell-smell up and down a stretch of Co Death coast-line has always held a fascination for racegoers, and another large crowd can be expected.
For many of them, though, it will be the event rather than the horses that will attract. Lay town may not quite be the last chance saloon for racing's lesser lights, but none of tonight's runners are likely to cause Entrepreneur any pro-Derby anxiety.
Nevertheless, the beach can place its own singular demands, demands which Shahrur looks capable of dealing with in the Guinness Extra Stout Race for qualified riders.
An easy winner of a Down Royal maiden a month ago, Shahrur faces an assortment of variously talented chasers in this 10-furlong contest and not surprisingly comes out well ahead on the official ratings. How the Dermot Weld trained gelding takes to Laytown is an unknown factor, but on balance Shahrur is difficult to oppose.
There are no such concerns about the track for My Trivet, who won the last race here last year. This time he goes in the opening Guinness Race and My Trivet ran well enough behind the easy winner Lady Shannon at Leopardstown last time to suggest he can ally his experience to current good form to win again. On ratings, Indian Reserve rates a definite danger to Pat Shanahan's mount, but My Trivet can spark off a double for the Curragh jockey.
Shanahan will also be legged on to Mountain Rocket in the concluding Coca-Cola Handicap, and despite a 5 lb penalty, this Nashwan gelding should be up to winning.
Mountain Rocket picked up that penalty for his length-and-a-half defeat of My River on good to firm around at Down Roval last Friday, but he was a decisive winner under Shanahan and can quickly follow.
Another rider who can leave tonight with a double under his belt is talented apprentice Eddie Ahern.
The young jockey takes the ride on More Risk in the Arthur Guinness Maiden and Jimmy Coogan's horse could be one to bet on if she reproduces her last effort. That was at the Curragh on Irish 2,000 Guineas day when More Risk recovered from a slow start to eventually finish fourth of 24 behind Realt Dhun Eibhir.
Ahern takes a useful looking 4 lb off her back, and with her race sharpness proven, More Risk looks to have a first rate chance of getting the better of Ma Barnicle.
Playprint won a seven-furlong handicap at Gowran back in April and his front running style should be ideally suited for here and give Ahern another winner, while Dancing Clodagh is marginally preferred to Bright Lake in the nine-furlong handicap.
