Clonmel this afternoon has been stretched to an eight-race card to facilitate the latest effort to boost the finances of the Shane Broderick Appeal Fund.
Nineteen horses will run in the concluding 13 furlong private sweepstakes, with partners in varying levels of fitness accompanying them. Former riding stars of the past will take part including Broderick's former boss, Michael Hourigan, and "Mouse" Morris, who sadly lost his smart What A Question to colic recently, will ride Cristy's Picnic
International showjumper Francis Connors is also taking part, but when it comes to former riding stars they don't come much brighter than Frank Berry, who still looks fit and should enjoy a good run on Argideen Vale. Win, lose or draw, however, the aim of helping the Broderick fund towards its target of £1 million should be significantly realised.
Back to more mundane matters, and trying to find a nap, it's hard not to look towards the Munster Handicap Chase and Sam Vaughan, whose performance when winning at Tralee last Wednesday was anything but mundane.
Eugene O'Sullivan's mudlark trotted up in a two-mile handicap chase, David Casey hardly having to move a muscle for the eight-year-old to beat Interim Account by five ridiculously easy lengths.
Sam Vaughan was out of his depth when, 24 hours later, he ran fifth to Native-Darrig in the Havasnack, but with the ground at Clonmel today forecast to be yielding to soft and Sam Vaughan carrying only a 6lb penalty, he should win this under the trainer's brother, William, who missed three winning rides at Tralee through flu.
Racing opens with the Eagle Eyed Maiden, and this may be the day when Tommy Stack's Samira finally gets her head in front.
Samira has been a frustrating sort to follow but what we do know is that she acts on cut in the ground, and on the evidence of her second to Lunasa at Tralee, should relish this two-mile trip.
Half an hour later and the ratings clearly point to Distinctly West in the Derrinstown Apprentice Claiming Race. Although well behind in a juvenile hurdle at Tralee, Distinctly West has 13lb in hand of Go Thunder on the flat ratings, and although too strict a reading of those ratings has on occasion in the past proved misleading, Distinctly West is hard to oppose.
Final Reminder was a surprise Galway winner but can make it three from three in the September Handicap and in the process equal trainer Michael Grassick's best ever score for a season, 19 in 1993. Although that Galway success was over a mile, Final Reminder had previously won over today's trip at Ballinrobe, and with Eddie Ahern claiming 2lb, Final Reminder can dismiss his opposition despite topweight.
Rock On Girl's last two runs suggest she can do just that to victory in the Kilcash Flat Race, while Conor O'Dwyer and Orange Order look a suitable combination of the Jasmine Court Maiden Hurdle.
Saturday's Fairyhouse fixture is likely to go ahead despite the funeral of Diana, Princess Of Wales.
There had been speculation that a decision to cancel the meeting may be taken at a Turf Club meeting tomorrow but sources close to Fairyhouse describe such a decision being taken as "unlikely".
