Hopes for Star Mizzah

JUST a week before the Irish Derby, I rate Mizzah and Guiding Star my best chances of a winner this weekend.

I’m really looking forward to riding

in the Railway Stakes at the Curragh next week.

Everything has gone according to plan since he won his maiden at the Curragh on Guineas weekend. And we have high hopes he’ll cope with the step into Group 2 company next Saturday.

He’ll be my main focus next week. But, before we start planning for next weekend, I’ll be busy enough in Down Royal today and Gowran Park tomorrow.

And I have high hopes for for the boss (Kevin Prendergast) in tomorrow’s seven-furlong www.goranpark.ie Handicap.

This fellow won his maiden at the Curragh in May of last year. And he went close against Rapid Applause on his second start this season, in Naas.

The handicapper did him no favours by putting him up 5lb for that run. But he ran another solid race at the Curragh last time, when he finished fourth to Sea Wolf in a competitive mile handicap.

He travelled into the race really well that day and has plenty of pace, so dropping to seven furlongs won’t be a problem.

With the like of

in the field, there should be plenty of pace, and I’ll ride my horse with more restraint than at the Curragh. I think he has a big chance.

My other ride for the Prendergast team tomorrow is in the other seven-furlong handicap. And she has a definite chance too.

She’s an improving filly and ran well in her first handicap, from a bad draw, when fourth to Sweetasever over a mile in Navan.

This filly probably has to improve a bit. But Gowran’s seven furlongs should be spot-on for her and she’s drawn low. She’s very straight-forward and should have a fighting chance.

My other rides tomorrow,

and probably need to improve to make an impact.

But Guiding Star, which won for me at Fairyhouse last week, has a big chance in today’s Value Cabs Handicap in Down Royal.

She won well in Fairyhouse, giving Pat Mckenna his first winner. And, although she went up 10lb, I think she should still be competitive in this 45-65 over just short of seven furlongs.