The third and final session of the rescheduled Tralee racing festival takes place this Thursday. Proceedings commence at 3.30pm and the best bet on this all-flat card appears to be Ard Na Greine in the Kerryman European Breeders Fund (C & G) Maiden.
A son of Galileo, the Jim Bolger-trained Ard Na Greine made a hugely encouraging start to his career by finishing second to Age Of Aquarius in a one-mile maiden at Dundalk on September 19th.
Ard Na Greine was ultimately beaten just one and a quarter lengths and, factoring in that Aidan O’Brien’s Age Of Aquarius appears to be a hugely exciting prospect, it will come as a major surprise if Ard Na Greine fails to open his account here at the expense of Freemantle.
Perhaps trainer Bolger can continue his remarkable season by completing a double courtesy of Greannmhar in the Timmy Houlihan European Breeders Fund Premier Nursery.
Greannmhar opened her account in terrific style by winning a Gowran Park nursery by an unextended two and a half lengths in early August.
The American-bred was duly upped a whopping 14 lbs for that success to a new mark of 88 and she ran off this revised mark when dead-heating for fourth spot behind Medicio in an extended seven-furlong nursery at Tipperary in late August.
This particular event doesn’t seem to be as competitive a race as the Tipperary one and Greannmhar is consequently recommended to triumph from Urban Beach.
Vanishing Causeway will surely play a leading role in the Jimmy Barry Memorial Gold Cup (Premier Handicap).
The David Marnane-trained Vanishing Causeway posted a most commendable effort on his most recent start as he was beaten just a length into second spot by top-weight Ballet Boy in a one and a half mile handicap at Dundalk in late September.
Whilst this event undoubtedly reflects a step up in class, Vanishing Causeway appears quite well-treated here and he’s duly taken to prove marginally superior to Nice Style.
Dermot Weld’s Carefree Smile can build on her creditable fourth-placed effort at Leopardstown on Champion Stakes day (September 7th) by disposing of Dabirana in the Club Fabric European Breeders Fund Fillies Maiden whilst Thoroughly Red and Karma Lina are a likely pair in the E.R.A. Walsh & O’Sullivan Auctioneers Maiden.
The Shane Broderick-trained Fandango Boy can attain due reward for his consistency by repelling Littleton Telchar in the paddypower.com Handicap whilst Rayina should have most to fear from the hat-trick seeking Solo Performer in the Fabric & Furniture Centre Handicap.