Yet another eight-race card at Tipperary today will test the stamina of punters, but Desert Fox can make the evening quicken for his supporters in the Golden Race.
The Aidan O'Brien-trained Sadler's Wells colt is making a quick reappearance after running at Cork on Saturday when finishing third to Beldarian.
On breeding, the 12 furlongs of that race could have been thought to suit Desert Fox but he appeared to run out of stamina in that race, being presented with every chance before being slightly hampered.
The blinkers that had earlier helped Desert Fox win his maiden over tonight's trip at Cork are left off this time, but the trip could be the key to this sometimes frustrating colt, and he is preferred to Dermot Weld's Fairyhouse winner Razik.
O'Brien and Weld also take each other on in the opening maiden but this time the result can be reversed. Weld's Nureyev colt, Aljjawarih, was highly regarded last year but ultimately proved very disappointing and didn't win. Nevertheless, some of his placed efforts were reasonable, including behind Bianconi and Strike Hard at the Curragh, and with the winter behind him should be up to defeating Festival Song.
Kevin Manning and Jim Bolger scored their second winner of the term when Ivory Isle won at Cork and, even with a 5lb penalty, Ivory Isle is still the selection in the nine-furlong handicap; while Manning can also be on the mark in the Roscrea Maiden with Speed Hill for David Hanley.
The better ground should definitely be in the favour of Four Prices in the second division of the maiden hurdle. Mouse Morris's horse was well backed at the Punchestown festival but floundered in the terrible ground. The Limerick runner-up Dedham Gale should be involved at the finish of the first division.
Muskerry King, if appreciating the forecast good to firm ground is weighted to go close in the Cashel Handicap Hurdle.
Tomorrow's meeting at Dundalk has been abandoned following two inspections of the track by the Turf Club's inspector of courses, W A McLernon. While there were no problems in the finishing straight, parts of the back straight were found to be unsafe.
