Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
TUCK KEN IMPROVE
Moss has the talent to win opener
MOSS Tucker should prove tough to beat in today’s opener in Tipperary, the five-furlong Irish Stallion Farms EBF Race.
One of two runners for Ken Condon, Moss Tucker is already a dual-winner at this venue, having scored over an extended seven furlongs last August and over today’s trip last October, when scooting home clear of Iva Batt, off a mark of 83, on easy ground.
The selection, a ground-versatile four-year-old triumphed on his penultimate start at Fairyhouse and was previously beaten a half-length by one of today’s rivals Chocquinto over this course and distance.
Meeting that rival on
14lb. better terms, Moss
Tucker should turn the tables with that rival.
And he was far from disgraced when fifth, beaten two and a half lengths, behind Johnny Feane’s Ano Syra in the €100,000 Rockingham at the Curragh on Sunday.
Condon (inset) also runs Quarantine Dreams, rated 3lb. superior to Moss Tucker, but needing to return to form.
A bigger threat might come from Willie Mccreery’s once-raced Bungle Inthejungle filly Funchal, successful on debut in Cork three weeks ago, when beating subsequent winner De Velara.
This evening’s feature, the listed Coolmore Ten Sovereigns Tipperary
2-Y-0 Stakes affords the Aidan O’brientrained The Antarctic a good chance to bounce back from a disappointing effort in the Norfolk (Group 2) at Royal Ascot.
Battaash’s full-brother weakened late to finish seventh behind The Ridler in the Norfolk, but is probably better-judged, in the context of this contest, on his two runs on Irish soil, notably his debut defeat of Wodao and Treasure Trove (both re-oppose today) over this course and distance back in April.
The Ballydoyle colt went on to score again in Naas, when Wadao finished a close third, before his Ascot trip.
Down to listed company, he’s expected to get back on track here in a field which includes David Marnane’s Lady Tilbury, successful at Cork and over this course and distance before finishing tenth behind Dramatised in the Queen Mary in Ascot.
The five handicaps on the card look typically difficult to solve, particularly on rain-softened ground.
But at a price I like the Peter Faheytrained filly Disco Boots in the Racing Again Tomorrow Fillies Handicap.
Winner of a Killarney maiden last summer, this Belardo finishing seventh in a big field at the Curragh on Guineas weekend on her seasonal debut and, more recently, when seventh again in Gowran Park.