Lein mean fighting machine
THE promising Loch Lein gets the vote in the Group 3 Ballylinch Stud Priory Belle 1000 Guineas Trial Stakes at Leopardstown this afternoon.
In a really competitive renewal of this race the Jessica Harrington filly makes plenty of appeal after showing lots in her three runs last season.
Her second to the subsequent Dewhurst Stakes hero St Mark’s Basilica in a Curragh maiden last August represents good form.
She then went to Cork and bolted up in a sprint maiden that produced five subsequent winners.
On her only try at seven furlongs last season Loch Lein didn’t appear to get home but she might do much better now that she is a year older and stronger.
Another likely winner for Harrington could come in the opener with O’reilly fancied to build on his second to Bolshoi Ballet in a maiden here last October.
That run would suggest that O’reilly is at least good enough to win a maiden and he can take this en route to better things.
Bolshoi Ballet himself is also in action on this card as he lines up in the P.W. Mcgrath Memorial Ballysax Stakes.
This early season Derby Trial has brought together some nice types but it is hard to look past the claims of Ryan Moore’s mount.
He did look potentially top drawer when taking care of O’reilly and his subsequent defeat in France is easily forgiven.
In the 2000 Guineas Trial a chance is taken on Kevin Prendergast’s Monaasib who is having his first run of the season.
He ended his two-year-old campaign with an excellent second to High Definition in the Beresford Stakes and a repeat of that run could well be good enough.
Elsewhere Wonder Elzaam can defy top weight in the first of the day’s handicaps. He is a quality type and may well be better than handicap class.