RACING/NAAS, LISTOWEL PREVIEWS:THE JIM Bolger-Kevin Manning team are always to be feared in the Bank Holiday Naas feature and Teolane can successfully continue her progress towards Royal Ascot this afternoon.
Teolane lines up for the Coolmore Fillies Sprint Stakes, one of three Listed races on the programme, and a contest that Bolger and Manning have won in two of the last three years. The daughter of Teofilo returns to the scene of her debut where she could finish only fourth to Maybe, a run that in strict form terms leaves her with something to find with that day’s runner-up Princess Sinead.
There are a couple of British raiders, as well as a Ballydoyle runner but since that debut Teolane sluiced up in a seven-furlong event at Leopardstown and the drop back in trip should not be an issue now she has a couple of runs under her belt.
Bolger and Manning will also be hoping Glor Na Mara, surely the best maiden in training, can finally win at the 10th attempt in the Owenstown Stud Stakes.
For a colt capable of finishing second in the Phoenix Stakes, and just five lengths off Frankel when third in the Dewhurst last season, it is remarkable Glor Na Mara has yet to win. But after a couple of lacklustre efforts this year, he looked much better when third to Bewitched and Zoffany in the Ballycorus last time. Richard Hughes comes to Naas to team up with Lilbourne Lad in the Rochestown Stakes and it will be fascinating to get a pre-Ascot line on the British and Irish juvenile form.
Lilbourne Lad won well on his Doncaster debut but found one too good when odds on at Newmarket after that. He can get back to winning form though against some local talent that may not be out of the absolute top-drawer.
Barry Geraghty looks a significant booking at Listowel for Benefit Of Porter in the mares beginners chase. Pat Sinnott’s runner has a good record at Tramore and found only Apt Manor too good for her on the flat there on Saturday. She has her first start over fences now and Geraghty takes the ride.
Geraghty can also strike in the opener on the dual-bumper winner Sallyanka and isn’t without a chance on Fair Dilemma in one of the handicap hurdles.
