Frankie Dettori jets into the Tralee Festival this evening to ride at the Ballybeggan Park track which celebrates a centenary of racing this year.
Formerly owned by Daniel O'Connell and his descendants, Ballybeggan Park has hosted any number of characters over the years, including Lester Piggott who rode there in 1993, but Dettori is sure to bring a distinctive Italian "brio" and flambouyance to proceedings.
The Tralee manager, Pat Crean, was helped in pulling off this crowd-pleasing coup by the fact that Dettori rode a number of horses for Crean's brother when an apprentice in Newmarket.
Clearance from Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin operation was obtained for Dettori to travel to Kerry and the former dual champion jockey in Britain will have rides in three races this evening.
Dettori rides Jay And-A for Mick Halford in the seven-furlong handicap and Magic Annemarie for Pat Martin in the sprint but possibly his best chance comes in the last race on John Oxx's Allotrope.
The Nashwan colt, who races for the Sheikh, hasn't run since May when fifth to Jarnac at Leopardstown and had previously been runner-up to the listed winner Aislo at Tipperary in April. That gives Allotrope a real chance but slight preference is for Frances Crowley's Goldnecu who was runner-up to The Card King at Killarney and should improve from that.
The balance of form gives practically everything in the spring some sort of chance and Magic Annemarie should make bold attempt to follow up a Cork victory last time. Sally Pledge chased her throughout that day and hasn't that much ground to make up considering the weight pull while Dermot Weld's Foreign Love should be too good for Jay And-A and the topweight Diligent Dodger in the Kelliher Handicap.
After rain yesterday, the ground at Tralee is forecast to be good which will be a relief to the connections of Lanturn whose need for a decent surface and a distance of ground looks to be fulfilled in the Barrett Handicap Hurdle.
Lanturn has been put up 15lb for an easy Cork win last time out and even with 12.4 on his back will be hard to beat. He's also likely to be a tight price and on Bellewstown form at the start of July, Lisa's Storm has the beating of him. Lanturn has improved significantly since but Lisa's Storm could be a bit of value.
The Golden Pages Handicap third Fairy Ridge can make a winning jumping debut in the opener and give Charlie Swan a first winner in the saddle since the start of July while Johnny Brushaside is hard to oppose in the Beginners Chase.
The Minister for Agriculture Joe Walsh will open the new £500,000 reserved stands complex at Tralee races this evening. It includes new bars, a judges box and commentary and camera facilities.
