Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
IRISH SCENE
TRUE SELF is a hopeful choice to land the Group 3 Munster Oaks for Willie Mullins and Rachael Blackmore at Cork today.
This mile and a half contest is the highlight of a quality card.
All eyes will be on last season’s impressive Irish St Leger winner Search For A Song as she bids to bounce back from a disappointing comeback in the Mooresbridge Stakes.
She will find this easier and the return to a longer trip should help her too.
However, preference is for the Mullins (right) mare who is also dropping in grade following her fourth in last weekend’s Pretty Polly Stakes.
On that occasion she was no match for the brilliant Magical but she faces nothing of that class today.
That first run for four months should have left her in good shape for this assignment and she too will progress for the step up to a more suitable trip.
Earlier on the card four interesting juveniles contest the Group 3 Marble Hill Stakes where Military Style makes most appeal.
This Aidan O’Brien-trained colt did well to win on his debut at Naas last month when he finished out strongly.
He might have the measure of the Fairyhouse maiden winner Shalaalaa.
A competitive field goes to post for the Sweet Mimosa Stakes where Lady Penelope is sure to be popular following her recent Listed success at Naas.
You’resobeautiful, who chased her home that day, is another that could run well but overall preference is for Peace Charter.
This filly was a classy two-yearold last term and shaped well on her comeback at Leopardstown when she was fifth in a Group 3. She didn’t enjoy any luck in running that day so should do much better here and the drop back in trip won’t be an issue for her.
The card concludes with a quality mile and a half handicap where Mirann is put forward to strike for the in-form Johnny Murtagh.
This gelding impressed on his Irish debut at Gowran last month when he won a reasonable handicap easily.
This race will demand a good deal more but Mirann will improve.
He looks like one that can hold his own in top handicaps this summer.
Murtagh might also win the threeyear-old maiden with Elite Craft who comes here off a second to the talented Roca Roma at Gowran a few weeks ago.
WILLIE MULLINS has indicated that the Galway Hurdle is the plan for his high class hurdler Aramon.
The former Grade 1-winning novice hurdler returned to action with an impressive success in a Grade 3 at Tipperary last week.
A TILT at the Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup later this month could be next for Joseph O’Brien’s talented four-year-old Buckhurst.