IT HAS TO BE LOVE TODAY
Could this be a clear pick in big one at Fairyhouse?
This race is one of the very few group races in Ireland that Aidan O’brien has yet to win, but that looks set to change.
Could It Be Love has made great progress this season and the form of her last two runs entitles her to take plenty of beating.
Last time out she ran a fine third in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot and a repeat of that run would probably be good enough.
In addition, the daughter of War Front posted a tremendous effort in the Irish 1,000 Guineas where she finished a fine second to Alpha Centauri having tried to make all the running.
Those last two runs put her in a different league to these rivals and she is the clear choice ahead of Lightening Quick. That one has several lengths to make up on Could It Be Love having finished a respectable sixth in the Irish 1,000 Guineas.
Prior to that the Johnny Murtagh inmate won the Group 3 Athasi Stakes at Naas and she is the pick of the rest.
Could It Be Love’s rider Donnacha O’brien could be set for a good day as he might also land the opener on his brother’s Vallambrosa.
This filly was only narrowly denied on her debut at Limerick last month and she progressed from that run to finish a respectable fifth in a Curragh Group 3 last weekend. There could be more to come from her.
Another likely winner for O’brien is Lady Godiva in the three-year-old seven-furlong handicap.
This filly comes here off two good runs and makes a quick return to action following her second to Passing Trade at Bellewstown on Thursday.
In the sprint handicap, last month’s Ayr winner Mr Shelby can make the most of his low draw. His second to Landline at Naas last week suggested he could win more races.
In the penultimate contest, Baba Boom is taken to follow up a recent success at Limerick. There is more to come from his gelding and he can get his revenge on Smiling Eliza who beat him at Navan last month.
Park Row is the pick in the last, while Shelannga is a confident choice in the seven-furlong maiden.