RACING:SÉAMUS HEFFERNAN notched his first Royal Ascot winner on Ishvana in Wednesday's Jersey Stakes and he can secure all the Magners Ulster Derby glory at Down Royal today on Clare Glen.
The classic-winning jockey is already on the Ulster Derby roll of honour but had to share the spoils with Johnny Murtagh 11 years ago after a dead heat between Citizen Edward and Masilia.
Clare Glen has race history having finished fourth last year and is half a stone higher in the ratings since then.
However if the ground softens, Clare Glen is likely to handle it better than most considering her fine third to Chrysanthemum in the Listed Alleged Stakes in April.
Strandfield Lady won at Leopardstown on Thursday night but could find the concession of so much weight to Sindjara beyond her in the Ulster Oaks, while Hard Yards is difficult to oppose in the juvenile maiden.
Davy Russell has chosen Discoteca in the Gowran opener tomorrow but testing ground will not be ideal for him so it will be interesting to see how Barry Geraghty gets on with the talented but notoriously quirky His Excellency.
Thomas Edison makes his debut for JP McManus in one of the maiden hurdles and a horse capable of beating Champagne Fever in the bumper can surely come out on top in this.
There is an inspection at Down Royal this morning at 7.30am. The track was raceable last night.
