Murtagh set for hat-trick

RACING: John Murtagh travels to Naas tonight for a six-race fixture in which he looks to have winning chances on half the card…

RACING: John Murtagh travels to Naas tonight for a six-race fixture in which he looks to have winning chances on half the card.

The Derby-winning jockey is on Fontanally Springs in the 25,000 six-furlong handicap and the return to the course and distance should be ideal for the Harry Rogers-trained filly.

Fontanally Springs won here in May on good-to-firm ground and was then only four and a half lengths off her stable-mate Moon Unit in a Listed race earlier this month.

On that basis a race at Tipperary looked a good option but it was a furlong shorter and the presence of the progressive Sister Sox didn't help either. It can be a different story now.

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Murtagh keeps the ride on Noel Meade's Priceoflove in the juvenile fillies maiden and this one's debut when runner-up to Ambika at Leopardstown sees her in here with a big chance.

Oh How Lovely was favourite for that race but could only manage 11th place and a more potent danger may well be the Green Desert newcomer Sunlit Silence.

An end-of-June maiden at Naas was not thought to be on the agenda for Bonanza when this season started but that is the case for Aidan O'Brien's colt this evening.

It's been a disappointing time for the Darshaan colt and in the circumstances maybe Murtagh's mount Mountain Pass is a better option.

The Dermot Weld-Pat Smullen team can also make their presence felt with Unique Pose and the topweight King Of Tory in the mile handicap.

Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor is the racing correspondent of The Irish Times. He also writes the Tipping Point column