AFTER HOLDS an entry in Saturday’s Darley July Cup at Newmarket but for a daughter of the mare Noah’s Ark today’s rescheduled Brownstown Stakes at Fairyhouse could be a better option if the meeting passes an 8am inspection today.
The ground at the rain-soaked Ratoath track was described as raceable yesterday after an early-morning inspection but prospects of racing are still described as being no more than “50-50.”
Fairyhouse manager Peter Roe reported: “I was more optimistic in the morning. We’ve been having a horrible damp time since and we need things to bounce right for us.
“It’s very frustrating and even if we race it will be very testing,” added Roe.
Just half a dozen have elected to take up the Group Three engagement again with two older horses and an unexposed three-year-old in Singing Bird.
However, with that one’s stable companion, Fire Lily, now looking likely to go to Newmarket later in the week After looks a ratings stand-out and as a daughter of Danehill Dancer should cope with heavy ground better than the other five runners.
Aidan O’Brien has left After in the Group One July Cup along with the Irish Guineas winner Power and also Reply, with Power rated a 10 to 1 shot by some layers to make a successful drop back down from a mile.
O’Brien’s fellow Co Tipperary trainer David Marnane has supplemented his Wokingham winner Dandy Boy into the Group One event at a cost of £30,000.
“He pleased us going into Ascot and has pleased us as much, if not more, since coming out of Ascot. We sat down and had a good chat, he won well at Ascot and we decided to take our chance,” Marnane said.
“He’s been a phenomenal horse for us and to win a third big handicap like that in the manner he did shows what a good horse he is on his day.
“He’s a fragile horse and when they are right and well you have to take your chance.
“The ground was just good at Ascot, it was touch and go whether he would run because of softer ground but he’s a little bit older now and he is fragile so maybe he enjoys a bit ease in the ground now,” he added.
The Ballydoyle team’s Group One focus will also be on Friday’s Falmouth Stakes with Maybe but they can enjoy a profitable warm-up at Fairyhouse with Warwick Avenue looking a good bet over the 10-furlong trip in the four-runner conditions race and King Of The Romans standing his ground in the opener.
In The Haven sports first-time blinkers in the second of the handicap hurdles at Roscommon this evening and that might tip things his way.
