Track to suit Kelly hope

The going is likely to be extremely testing at Roscommon today but for Sunday Venture in the Lough Ree Maiden Hurdle, the absence of a steep hill could be a more important factor.

The Pat Kelly-trained six-year-old was well backed to win a maiden at last week's Galway fixture but from appearing to be going very well at the top of the hill, Jason Titley suddenly found himself going backwards.

By the time the field had come out of the dip, the winner Cnocan Glas had flown but when faced with a climb instead of a descent, Sunday Venture rapidly made up ground and eventually ran through to be second.

It was a perplexing sort of effort but the New Zealand bred Sunday Venture is reported to work like a good horse at home. Significantly blinkers are not being put on him today and Roscommon's more level course could be the key to victory.

Jim Bolger's fine run in the last six weeks looks set to continue with a couple of more winners.

Saxophone could manage only fourth to Yuan in a maiden at the Curragh's Moyglare day and Yuan was beaten at Leoparstown on Saturday by Balla Sola. Neverthless, Saxophone has achieved a rating of 85 and should be good enough to take a less than inspiring Tully Maiden.

Bolger's Tralee winner Dawn Project reverted back a quarter mile at Clonmel last time and was running on well enough at the finish. Back over a mile and a half in the apprentice race, he should go close.

John Oxx's Kasota, a filly by Alzao, ran a promising enough debut at the Curragh behind Dazzling Park in what was probably an above average maiden. It certainly looks promising enough to play a major part in the Glenamaddy Maiden while Danaa Minni could be up to completing a quick hat-trick in the handicap hurdle.

The extra distance should bring Cork trained Laras Grey's, a hurdles winner at Kilbeggan, was running on well behind Let Us Pray at the end of a chase at Tralee and this extra distance and more testing ground should bring his stamina into play in the Beginners Chase.

Fast-improving Lucky Begonia can make a successful return to racing on turf at Musselburgh today. The five-year-old looks very much the one to be on in the "Showcase" Tote Handicap. She has made great strides in 1998 - having begun the year a maiden the mare is now bidding for her fifth win.