Tropical Lady to turn tables on Solskjaer

Racing: If revenge is a dish best served cold then Tropical Lady should enjoy the taste of tomorrow's Curragh feature very much indeed.

The Jim Bolger-trained filly was a prolific winner last year, but her luck appeared to run out with a vengeance in the Group Two Royal Whip at this course when she ultimately failed by a head to overhaul her fellow five-year-old Solskjaer.

Both horses clash again in the Castlemartin & La Louviere Studs Gladness Stakes tomorrow and the benefit of a recent run behind Kitty O'Shea, as well as the seven-furlong trip, can see Tropical Lady come out on top.

Aidan O'Brien has chosen to run Solskjaer instead of Antonius Pius and at least there will be no temperament problems for the Ballydoyle trainer to worry about as a result.

Solskjaer has run just six times in his career but has twice shown remarkable courage to return from tearing ligaments in a hock. He has also managed to win at this seven-furlong trip, but as a half brother to Yeats, he could well appreciate further as he gets older.

The sole cross-channel raider Steenberg was runner-up in the Gladness last year while the dark horse could be Zarad who won his sole start at Listowel and impressed Mick Kinane into the bargain.

Acropolis impressed more than just his jockey with a stunning effort in last year's Arc and that fourth to Bago sees him well clear of his AES Alleged Stakes opposition on the ratings. Cairdeas is a classy runner in the Presidential colours but Acropolis brings some formidable form to this Listed class.

Kieren Fallon, who also rides the newcomer Kitty Hawk in the opener, will take the mount on Russian Blue in the Oak Lodge Loughbrown Stakes which looks a fascinating contest despite there being just five runners.

Russian Blue was multi-placed at Group One level as a juvenile while Indesatchel was another consistent operator at Group level.

In contrast Merger only ran twice but the second of those was a very good run in the Beresford Stakes and he looks the most likely to improve as a three year old.

Fallon and Kinane are likely to come face to face in a battle for the concluding two miler and while Coconut Beach is the obvious progressive type Kinane's mount Icklingham does have a 98 rating already in the bag.

Kinane was just beaten on Cupids Ray on the first day of the season and that horse now tackles Serov again in the six-furlong handicap. The latter's best form is at five furlongs and Cupids Ray, now ridden by Johnny Murtagh, can gain revenge.

Ruby Walsh travels to Tramore tomorrow and Masjoor can reward his trip in the second maiden hurdle while the flat winner Ovation looks one to examine in the opener.

Old Kilminchy could be the one to side with in the handicap chase and Laoch Dubh looks another solid option in the preceeding Beginners Chase.