This week's racing glut continues at Fairyhouse and Sligo and while the most attractive betting propositions might appear to be at the western fixture, Jim Bolger's eyes will be firmly at Fairyhouse.
His well backed Galway two-year-old winner Galanta makes a quick reappearance in the Eircom Race while there will also be some interest in the reappearance of Aretha in the Billypay Handicap.
Aretha has had just the two runs in the early part of this season when she ran behind Desert Magic and Amethyst off a mark of 102. At Leopardstown's 1,000 Guineas Trial she was well beaten by Amethyst but, considering her interrupted run through the race, did well to finish runner-up.
She has no easy task off 10st this evening but she has always been a filly with a touch of class, she has been dropped a few pounds in the ratings and her chance cannot be dismissed despite the weight.
Galanta also has to concede weight in his race, none more so than to Tribal Princess. This one has the promising apprentice Tom Queally taking her weight down to 7.4 and although Galanta ran very green last week and was value for a lot more than a neck, he will do well to concede the weight to James Burns's decent runner.
Dermot Weld can be fancied to add to his famous score with Mutakarrim in the apprentice maiden. Mutakarrim ran a decent enough fifth behind Benovia in a similar race at Naas and should have come on from that.
Kate Emily looked to be given just a little bit too much to do when runner-up to Aljay at the Golden Pages meeting but can add to her Wexford success in the amateur handicap while Philip Fenton's mount Clear Move looks a clear pick in the bumper.
There is another amateur maiden race at Sligo and in this Weld runs the 68-rated Irish Blessing who will be ridden by Kevin O'Ryan. However this looks like just the kind of assignment that Dr Torus has been crying out for.
A smart bumper performer, Dr Torus must be a little infuriating to his Co Wicklow trainer Philip Rothwell as he has plenty of ability to run but seemingly a lot less to jump.
His fallibility over hurdles was again shown behind Carina Bay at Galway and although Dr Torus was a flop favourite in a flat maiden at Roscommon some weeks ago, tonight's contest looks a lot less taxing. With no obstacles to jump, he can dominate.
The nap falls to the luckless Dariole in the maiden hurdle. Placed to Grinkov last weekend, Michael Halford's charge has also run into smart performers such as Pillar Rock and Dark Trojan. There doesn't appear to be anything of that calibre to stop him breaking his hurdling duck now.
