Following last week’s fabulous Royal Ascot meeting, the Irish racing scene returns to normal this week with Fairyhouse staging a relatively low-key six-race flat card on Thursday evening.
Proceedings kick-off at 6.25pm and Slam Dunk is bound to go close in the Chronicle Private Clients Race over seven furlongs. On his most recent start, the American-bred Slam Dunk posted a most commendable effort to be beaten just a half-length into second place by a 103-rated opponent in One Great Cat in a one-mile conditions race at level weights in Navan on June 13th.
If that was a handicap, One Great Cat would have been in receipt of all of 10lbs from the Aidan O’Brien-trained One Great Cat. Taking all of this into consideration, Slam Dunk, who previously won a seven-furlong all-weather maiden at Dundalk, is recommended to get the better of Incline.
Magic Cloud should prove worthy of support in the Bet On-Line @betchronicle.com Handicap. On his most recent start, the British-bred Magic Cloud stepped up on his previous efforts to finish a fine fourth to Chevie in a seven-furlong Leopardstown handicap on June 11th. If reproducing this effort then ‘Shark’ Hanlon’s Magic Cloud is likely to possess too many aces for recent Tipperary winner Six Of Hearts.
First Symphony looks the part in the Bet With Chronicle On-Course Handicap. The Brian Nolan-trained First Symphony made a valiant attempt to make all on her most recent start when occupying the runner-up berth behind Tangible in a one and a half mile fillies’ handicap at Tramore on May 31st. Whilst this event reflects a step up in class, First Symphony is still likely to upstage Eoin Doyle’s The Fonze.
So Much Commotion has genuine each-way prospects in the www.betchronicle.com Better Odds Handicap. On her most recent foray, the Mujadil-sired So Much Commotion seemed to step up on some of her previous efforts when coming fifth to King Royal in a one-mile handicap at Navan. If continuing on her upward curve, then Liam McAteer’s So Much Commotion receives the nod to account for Lady Schmuck.
Jim Bolger’s Ard Fheis, a half-sister to last year’s Irish Derby winner Soldier Of Fortune, should attain a valuable winning bracket by getting the better of King Of The Nile in the Sporting Emporium Maiden whilst the Maurice Phelan-sired Aldhaher Beebers is likely to provide the solution to the closing Chronicle Crackers (Q.R.) Maiden.