Dermot Weld's lightening start to the flat season has proved something of a bonanza to the Curragh trainer's supporters, and Key To The City can keep the ball rolling by landing today's Ash Handicap at Fairyhouse.
Many of Weld's winners so far have been in either maidens or conditions races but he has also been well worth following in handicaps.
That could be due to the rather indifferent form shown by some of his string last season when the yard was in the grip of the virus. Clearly the bugs have been shaken off now but they have possibly left behind some horses whose inherent talent may not be reflected in their handicap marks. That makes them well worth following now.
In truth, Key To The City could hardly be described as a disappointment last season. He did, after all, win at Dundalk in September and was placed on two other occasions. Nevertheless, he was expected on other occasions to run better than he did and it would have been odd had he escaped scot-free the effects of last year's bug. With that no longer an issue, a better Key To The City is expected and today's race looks well within his grasp.
As is becoming increasingly common, the feature on the Saturday card doesn't look particularly inspiring, and the most valuable race today is the one-mile Chestnut Maiden, worth £6,000.
This is a contest that could well end up being dominated by newcomers. Aidan O'Brien's Fairy Ridge has to be respected, but maybe John Oxx's Nicola Bella will be better value.
Nicola Bella may be the first leg of a double for Oxx and jockey John Murtagh, as the Arazi filly Via Saleria is preferred to Weld's Look West in the Lime Maiden.
It should pay to ignore the disappointing run of Nuzum Road Makers at Punchestown last time. The ground was so bad there that the form is hard to trust totally and Nuzum Road Makers looked a much better prospect when winning here at the Irish Grand National meeting. He can take the Elm Handicap Hurdle for Michael Cunningham; while Tom Gibney could have a riding double of his own with the veteran Wally Wallensky and Kings Banquet.
Dundalk Race Company director Colm McCourt announced last night an exciting £5 million development plan for the racecourse which hopes to host horse and dog racing in future. "The shareholders of Dundalk Race Company voted for a merger with the existing Dundalk dog track at a recent EG Meeting," said McCourt.
"The project will go ahead early next year providing we get planning permission, and the majority of the funding will come from the race company and Bord Na gCon," he added.
