NEWS:WHAT COULD turn out to be the last ever meeting held at Tralee may well turn out to be a memorable one for Michael Kinane as the 13-time champion jockey looks to have good prospects of a three-timer.
Kinane's week is set to culminate at Longchamp on Sunday when he gets the leg up on Katiyra in the Group One Prix de l'Opera although as yet he has not picked up a ride in the Arc de Triomphe itself. Before that he has a number of mounts at Newmarket on Saturday including the Falmouth Stakes winner Nahoodh for Mark Johnston in the Sun Chariot and Little White Lie in the Cambridgeshire.
Kinane returns to Tralee where he produced one of the most memorable rides of his career back in 1994 on board Treble Bob in a two-mile handicap.
The very last race run at Ballybeggan Park before it enters a period of uncertainty is a mile-and-a-half handicap and Kinane looks to have the winning of it on Shamiran. Runner-up to Lee Applause on his belated seasonal debut, Shamiran is Kinane's pick over the Tramore winner Rayina.
Thoroughly Red was an expensive failure at Bellewstown but could be worth another shout in the mile maiden while the Kinane-John Oxx team have a well-bred newcomer in A Girl - a daughter of Sadler's Wells and the Moyglare winner Preseli — in the opening maiden.
Today's feature is the €52,000 Paddy Barry Gold Cup in which Eagle's Pass attempts back-to-back victories. A repeat of last year's 19- length success is unlikely but this looks a decent pot for a horse that has just missed out on a big prize this season. Runner-up to Indian Pace in the Galway Hurdle two months ago, Eagle's Pass looked all over the winner of Sunday's Cesarewitch at the Curragh only to fail to overhaul Suailce.
Ironically Indian Pace's jockey at Galway, Paul Townend, is on Eagle's Pass today and his 5lb claim could be crucial against a dozen opponents that include topweight Bobs Pride and two from Jim Bolger's yard.
Bolger has the Dundalk runner -up Ard Na Greine in the mile colts maiden but Aidan O'Brien's Freemantle looks worth another chance after proving an expensive failure behind Nafaath at the Curragh.
Meanwhile Johnny Murtagh will desert Aidan O'Brien's runner in tomorrow's Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket in favour of the regally-bred Pursuit Of Glory.
David Wachman's wide-margin Dundalk winner is second favourite for the Group One prize after yesterday's declaration stage behind Serious Attitude.
O'Brien has turned to his former stable jockey Jamie Spencer for the ride on Heart Shaped but Coolmore hopes look set to principally lie with Pursuit Of Glory, a daughter of the Coronation Stakes winner Sophisticat.
Murtagh and Wachman will team up with their Prix Morny winner Bushranger in tomorrow's Middle Park Stakes where the Irish colt renews rivalry with the Deauville runner-up Gallagher.
Today will see a vital declaration stage for Sunday's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and Aidan O'Brien will have to make a final call on Duke Of Marmalade's next start as the five-time Group One winner is also entered for Dundalk tomorrow night.
