The main British race meeting takes place at Sandown this Saturday. It’s the Group 3 betinternet.com Solario Stakes that occupies centre stage and the likelihood is that Cry Of Freedom will give a hugely positive account of himself in this seven-furlong contest.
The Mark Johnston-trained Cry Of Freedom has already won his sole two starts to date and the booking of Frankie Dettori is surely significant. The hint should be taken and Cry Of Freedom is recommended to possess too many aces for Sri Putra.
There will also be plenty of interest in the Iveco Atlanta Stakes, a one mile listed race for fillies and mares. The Paul Blockley-trained Lady Deauville is on a clear upward trajectory having won her two most recent races and the three-year-old should continue on her merry way here by disposing of Ada River.
Kaateb appears quite well treated in the Best Odds Guaranteed At betinternet.com Stakes and William Haggas’ five-year-old is taken to dispose of Perks whilst Chief Editor and Misaro are a likely pair in the McGee Group Handicap.
Chester
The Channel 4 cameras will additionally be screening three races live from Chester and the featured race at the famed Roodeye course is the corbettsports.com Chester Handicap, a listed race over an extended one mile five furlongs.
Drill Sergeant appears to have a favourable handicap mark as Mark Johnston’s three-year-old gets into this race on just 8-7 and this ultra-consistent sort is likely to show a clean pair of heels to Munsef.
Cotton Eyed Joe should regain the winning thread for canny Yorkshire operator Alan Swinbank in the William T Corbett “In Running” Handicap whilst Keelubg is another that’s likely to play a major starring role in this opener and Russki is marginally preferred to Ordnance Row in the corbettpoker.com Stakes.
On home soil
There’s plenty of domestic action over the weekend. Dundalk and Killarney both race on Saturday. On Sunday meanwhile, enthusiasts can choose between The Curragh and Killarney.
At Dundalk, the featured event is the Ruby Stakes, a listed race over a mile. Jim Bolger is experiencing a truly phenomenal season and the Coolcullen operator should collect this race with Akua’ba.
On her most recent start, the four-year-old posted a stellar performance to be beaten a length into third place by Elletelle in a six furlong listed fillies race at the Curragh on July 27th. It should be remembered that Elletelle won at Royal Ascot last year and Akua’ba was conceding Ger Lyons’ charge all of five lbs at The Curragh. The probability is that Akua’ba won’t encounter anything of the calibre of Elletelle here and she’s accordingly taken to dispose of Mr Medici.
The Myles Sunderland-trained Jack Travers should continue on his upward curve by collecting the Blackrock Handicap.
Jack Travers has been most consistent this season winning a Killarney handicap and been placed on his remaining three starts. On his most recent outing, he chased home Invincible Joe in an extended one mile handicap at the Galway festival. Jack Travers has been raised 2 lbs to a new mark of 78 for that display and he should in all probability return to the coveted number one slot here from Le Citadel.
Silver Shoon, a 95-rated performer from the Dermot Weld stable, should attain due reward for his consistency by landing the Ravensdale Maiden from Aerach and Caherassdotcom should have most to fear from Archmani in the Oriel Maiden.
Killarney
Meanwhile, Kargali is a most interesting proposition in the Abbeyfeale Race over an extended mile at Killarney.
The John Oxx-trained Kargali never even remotely came out of second gear when winning an extended seven furlong maiden by seven lengths at Tipperary on April 10th. That was just Kargali’s second career start and, although unseen since then, the three-year-old seems a hugely-exciting sort and he’s recommended to shrug off the attentions of Rock Exhibition.
Tingling is the clear class act in the Castleisland Maiden for two-year-olds’.
The David Wachman-trained Tingling has finished second on her sole two outings to date and on her most recent foray, she was beaten a half-length into second spot by her better fancied stable companion Again in a one-mile maiden at The Curragh in late July. That display in particular indicates that Tingling is a well above-average sort and she’s recommended to beat Aliyfa.
Rayina and Anfield Road are a likely pair in the Dingle Maiden whilst Tom Hogan’s Kirbybroguelantern is the clear class act in the closing Listowel (QR) Maiden, a race that’s also likely to concern French Accordion.
The Curragh
The Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes, first run in 1973, occupies centre stage at The Curragh on Sunday and there’s no denying that Again is the clear class act in the race.
The David Wachman-trained Again, having beaten stable companion Tingling in a Curragh maiden, brought herself to the attentions of a much wider audience by sluicing home in the Group 2 Ballygallon Stud Debutante Stakes over seven furlongs at Leopardstown earlier this month.
Again ultimately won that race by three lengths from Oui Say Oui and she can make the step up to the highest level here by defeating Kevin Prendergast’s Shimah, winner of her two starts to date.
Finsceal Beo will surely return to the winning groove in the Dance Design Stakes, a listed nine furlong contest for fillies and mares.
The Jim Bolger-trained Finsceal Beo, winner of last season’s British and Irish 1,000 Guineas, has been a little disappointing of late. However, this 117-rated filly is still a minimum of 11lbs ahead of everything else in this race on official figures and therefore it will come as a major surprise if Finsceal Beo fails to return to the coveted number one slot at the expense of Beach Bunny.
Luminous Eyes, trained by Dermot Weld for Dr Ronan Lambe, can augment her facile Group 3 victory at Leopardstown in July by defeating Roof Fiddle in the Group 3 Go And Go Round Tower Stakes. Charlie Swan’s hurdle performer Adajal could make a triumphant return to the flat by eclipsing Dane Blue in the Hacketts European Breeders Fund Irish Cambridgeshire Handicap.
Predictions
At Killarney on Sunday, all eyes will be firmly focused on the Ross Golf Club Hurdle as the race could witness the reappearance of the John Kiely’s Galway Hurdle winner Indian Pace.
Representing the Lawless By Nature Syndicate, the blinkered Indian Pace was quite simply breathtaking when beating Eagle’s Pass by a length with teenager Paul Townend in the Ballybrit race on July 31st and he’s likely to have most to fear from Kalderon here.
Cloone Stream should continue the good run being experienced by trainer Charlie Swan by dispensing with Prince Roco in the Murphy & Maloney Developers Novice Hurdle and Arthur Moore’s Darling Harbour is put forward to oblige from Collingwood in the A.I.B. Killarney Handicap Hurdle.