IRE- Navan 6/10

[tenfurlongs]

Navan 10:30- 1m2f Irish Stallion Farms EBF Salsabil Stakes (Listed Race) (3yo)  #3- One Voice (3-1) dispatched a field of maidens including Auxilia when last seen at Leopardstown. Trainer Harrington/jockey Foley both in fine form since the resumption. #4- Passion (2-1) broke her maiden at Cork for A. O'Brien but subsequently stubbed her toe in GII at Doncaster. $1.1M daughter of Galileo will try to emulate big brother Capri, who won the Irish Derby and St. Leger. #1- Auxilia (7-1) was no match for One Voice on debut. Won by five in second start, then finished a close-up third in Listed stake at the Curragh. #6- Silence Please (8-1) is undefeated in two starts. Also trained by Harrington, will have to improve a bit to contend here for Barber & Team Valor.

EX- 3,4/1,3,4,6  Result 6,3,5  Silence Please (4-1) closed with determination to just pip stablemate One Voice on the wire. Harrington continues her blazing restart to racing.

More to follow...




TW

[tenfurlongs]

Navan 11:00- 1m Heritage Stakes (Listed Race) (4yo+)  #1- Buckhurst (3-1) ducks the GII 1 1/4mi. types at the Curragh on Friday for this cozier spot, cutting back to a mile. Well handled by O'Brien-the-younger as a 3yo, this seems like another clever placement to start his 4yo campaign. #2- Mount Everest (9-2) acts like 10-12 furlongs suits him best, wasn't embarrased in last year's BC Turf at SA, only beaten two-and-a-half lengths by Bricks and Mortar. Handled a mile just fine as a 2yo, but not sure he can travel smartly in this company. Will certainly take a lot of money with A. O'Brien/Heffernan in his corner. #7- Trais Fluors (7-1) is at his best going a mile, but found himself too far back in a hot-paced BC Mile last fall. Had a dull Saudi race in February, but could wake up in this setting.

EX- 1/2,7  Result: 3,1,7  Jessica Harrington and Shane Foley can do no wrong as Ancient Spirit (3-1) barely held off Buckhurst for a victory by the narrowest of margins. If Ancient Spirit (5yo) has recaptured his 3yo form (German 2000 Guineas- GII winner) he could be a fine addition to the mile division.

Navan 11:30- 1m Proudstown Handicap (4yo+)  Field of eighteen with all kind of angles and question marks. #7- Mohtarrif (7-1) is the least exposed of this group, showing a mile win on the AW at Lingfield last March. New gelding is somewhat of a project for trainer Lyons, main man Keane is aboard. #10- Koybig (7-1) fits with these off his runs at Killarney and Galway last summer, rounded into form on the AW earlier this year. #14- Ambitious Approach (15-1) ran a close-up fourth to Buckhurst in a maiden at Leopardstown last April, not seen again until autumn where they experimented with various distances. Gelding could run well in here if top yard has finally sorted him out. #16- Bellakris (15-1) figures to get bet down due to the connections (Harrington/Foley) and horse at least runs consistently, which is something that cannot be said for many of these. Not sure she can beat all of them, but is going the right trip over the right ground.

EXBOX- 7,10,14,16  Result: 6,14,10  Two AW mile runs this year, including a win last time, must have helped put Mutadaawel (13-1) on the good form today. Nice triple with two of mine, Ambitious Approach (9-1) and Koybig (13-1), second and third.

Good luck if you play today!

TW

[1hooper]

That was a good horse race. Thought the 3 was a little green late.

[tenfurlongs]

Silence Please ran well for you guys in the previous race Hoop. Was that expected, or a pleasant surprise?

Also, PPs are available for Friday's Curragh card, if anyone is interested. Just need to register with Brisnet. Terrific card.  www.brisnet.com/product/past-performances/OSA

TW

[1hooper]

This is what I heard yesterday. Trainer speak. Opened at even money in our small pools but kept drifting up.
Silence Please has pleased Jessica Harrington in her training coming into this race. Based on what she has seen, Harrington believes that she will handle the increase in trip nicely.