Theatreworld to put on a winning act

The versatile Theatreworld looks nap material to land Tralee's most valuable race of the week today, the £25,000 Carling Gold Cup. This year's Champion Hurdle runner-up has proved to be a frustratingly expensive animal for this column in the past, a critical lack of finishing acceleration proving his downfall in hurdling's highest class.

However, his presence alone in today's field is an indication that he can win another big flat prize to add to last year's Leopardstown November Handicap.

There had been a possibility that Theatreworld would have used this week to add a novice chasing career to his portfolio. Aidan O'Brien had proposed just that after Theatreworld made his first start in three and a half months a winning one at Leopardstown 17 days ago.

Before the turn in, Theatreworld's chance looked remote as he trailed the field but when today's opponents, Hill Society and Sadlers Home, weakened, Theatreworld picked up impressively and eventually won with Christy Roche standing up in the irons.

Understandably on the strength of that, O'Brien has postponed novice chasing plans and with normal improvement Theatreworld should relish this mile and six and the likely strong gallop.

The same liking for a strong gallop also applies to John Oxx's Sirinndi who followed up a Curragh maiden success with a victory in a ladies race but he has been a revitalised animal since being ridden from off the pace and the patient style of rider Pat Smullen should be ideal for him.

John Murtagh is on Gan Saru who found Buddy Marvel just too good for him at the Galway Festival but who could now reverse that form while the performance of that other smart hurdler Just Little will be very interesting, though possibly not as interesting for punters as her stable-mate Theatreworld.

O'Brien and Roche will also be fancied to win the Listed Beamish Stout Ruby Stakes with Theano, an easy winner at Tipperary on Thursday and who managed a third to Ryafan in the Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket last month.

On the ratings, Theano should have the winning of this mile contest but she has occasionally disappointed when expected to run well in the past and on rain softened ground, it may pay to side with the hardened handicapper Wray.

Liam Browne's McDonogh winner didn't cut much ice subsequently behind Woodsia at the Curragh but it's worth forgiving him that run and if Stephen Craine can secure a trouble free run from the rear of the field, Wray could oblige at a nice price.

That may be only a temporary hiccup for the Ballydoyle team though as the word for the newcomer Boldini, a son of the mighty Sadler's Wells, is encouraging for the Oyster Tavern Maiden.

Aboriginal was taken out of the maiden won by Ithastobesaid at Gowran a fortnight ago but on his best form, Paddy Mullins' charge looked sure to have played a significant part in that had he run. Aboriginal can prove the point in the opening Grand Hotel-Boyle Bros Maiden Hurdle.

The Mullins family can win the bumper with Tony's Ballon Point whose second to Cochis Run at Galway was boosted when that rival followed up here on Sunday, while Dermot Weld's Key To The City could improve on previous efforts to take the Moriarty Plant Hire Handicap.