GRAVES DANGER
THE Joseph O’brien-trained Degraves can open his account, at the third attempt, in the one mile Welcome To Navan Racecourse 2-Y-0 Maiden in Navan.
The son of Camelot has shown plenty of promise in his two starts and, with title-chasing Donnacha O’brien opting to partner his brother’s charge rather than Ballydoyle hope Arthur’s Kingdom, he should prove tough to beat.
Degraves caught the eye on debut at the Curragh, when finishing fourth to Lady Jane Wilde and built on that effort, back at the Curragh, two weeks later when filling third spot behind Sinawann and
Agitare, arguably one of the best two-year-old maidens around.
O’brien’s charge has shown enough to suggest he should be capable of a maiden success.
And he gets the nod here to outpoint Arthur’s Kingdom, pipped by Baby Zeus on his second start in Killarney and the mount today of Padraig Beggy.
Although firmly put in her place by the progressive but ill-fated Angel’s Amy in Listowel last time, Mean Fomhair might land the Irish Stallion Farms Fillies handicap for the father and son combination of Gerry and Colin Keane.
A very easy winner at Roscommon, when relishing the soft underfoot conditions, Mean Fomhair went up 15lb. for her troubles but still ran creditably to fill second spot in Listowel.
And, with conditions again in her favour today, she shouldn’t be far away.
And, raised 6lb. for a gutsy win in a Curragh nursery last time, the Mick Mulvany-trained The King Of Kells (Chris Hayes) might follow-up in the www.navanracecourse.com Nursery.
conditions turned “soft to heavy” for yesterday’s action in Galway. But they didn’t stop the in-form partnership of Noel Meade and Sean Flanagan (inset) completing a double with Battle Of Midway and The Red Menace, a wide margin winner of the Ryans Cleaning Chase.
The John Kiely-trained grey Portmore Lough, without a win since August 2015, justified 4/1 favouritism in the featured Guinness Handicap Chase.
And Sayo, ridden for Willie Mullins by champion jockey Paul Townend, stepped-up significantly on his fencing bow in Listowel to capture the beginners chase, coasting home 24 lengths clear of Fine Brunello.
O’brien will choose from five - Arizona, Wichita, Harpocrates, Monarch Of Egypt and Year Of The Tiger - in the Group One Darley Dewhurst Stakes in Newmarket on Saturday.