AL BE BACK

Jessica’s filly capable of ending 12-month drought

WITHOUT a win since her Marcel Boussac victory in Longchamp a year ago, Albigna should return to winning ways in the Group 3 Coolmore US Navy Flag Concorde Stakes in Tipperary. Jessica Harrington’s filly as been largely disappointing this season. But her bare form still entitles her to land a prize at this level.

Fourth in the Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies a month after her Group 1 breakthrough at Longchamp last autumn, Albigna was sent off a short-priced favourite for the Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas but failed to fire, finishing sixth, but beaten only four lengths behind Peaceful and separated from the winner by a couple of subsequent Group 1 winners in Fancy Blue and Even So.

Reportedly ‘jarred’ after her Guineas run, Albigna didn’t reappear until contesting the Group 3 Snow Fairy at the Curragh six weeks ago. And , confidently handled, she failed to get to terms with Thundering Nights.

Returning to Group 1 company in the Matron at Leopardstown last time, Albigna filled fifth spot, behind Johnny Mu r t a g h’s C h a m p e r s E l y s e e s (contesting th e Sun Chariot i n Newmarket today), and proven Group 1 performers Peaceful and Fancy Blue.

Down to Group 3 level today and suited by easy ground, Albigna is expected to justify the on-going confidence which Jessica

Harrington and Shane Foley retain in her.

On ratings, Vatican City is an obvious threat but f lopped on Dundalk’s polytrack last time. So the biggest threat to Albigna might come from Gerry Keane’s Irish Cambridgeshire winner Laughifuwant, the mount of Chris Hayes.

Conqueror of the promising Dance Jupiter in a rated event in Galway, the Ken Condon-trained Teed Up might be capable of completing a hat-trick, on his handicap debut, in the Tipperaryraces. ie Handicap.

Billy Lee’s mount looks progressive and is preferred to Agitare, belatedly off the mark in Listowel last week, and Mi c h a e l H a l f o r d ’s consistent three-year-old Lord Park, no match for the progressive and exciting Baron Samedi in Navan last time.