Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Wisconsin is ready to answer O’brien’s call
AIDAN’S MOBILE COLT CAN RING UP VICTORY
WISCONSIN should build on his recent debut run at the Curragh by landing today’s Irish Stallion Farms Maiden in Tipperary. The Aidan O’brien-trained colt, a son of Deep Impact and Peeping Fawn, a three-time Group 1 winner in 2007, shaped with penalty of promise when chasing home Night Of Glory at the Curragh and sets a decent standard, stepping up to a mile and a half. The selection’s Curragh maiden was run at a strong pace. And Wisconsin looked green and, at times, a bit outpaced, before pugging on to be beaten three lengths. The Ballydoyle colt will know a lot more about his job this time and, with Ana O’brien taking over in the saddle from Seamus Heffernan, Wisconsin should prove tough to beat. The obvious danger is Patrick Prendergast’s Steel Prince, a promising third behind Homesman and subsequent winner Modern Approach on his recent debut in Limerick. Johnny Murtagh registered two juvenile successes last weekend. And his Wolf of bag got street must be strongly fancied to continue his rich vein of form in the opening five-furlong maiden. This Equiano colt ran a race full of promise on his debut in Navan, when finishing a close fourth to Romanised, form boosted by the impressive success of the third Declaration of peace at Dundalk. And he’ll be a leading fancy for the Marble Hill at the Curragh this weekend. That Navan event was among the best two-year-old maidens this season. And Murtagh’s charge, with Pat Smullen on board, should take plenty of beating. In the National Hunt action, Letter De Cachet, returning after a winter break, sets the standard in the Tipperaryraces. ie Maiden Hurdle. This Gigginstown-owned gelding, officially rated 119, has plenty of experience and, last seen when beaten a half-length by Kalopsia at Galway in October, is a confident choice to provide in-form Noel Meade with further success. The mares bumper looks a head-to-head between Mystic Theatre and Penny Jane, the respective mounts of multiple amateur champion Patrick Mullins and the man who ended his reign recently, Jamie Codd. And preferemce is for the Willie Mullins-trained Mystic Theatre.