Curragh Preview: Winning tomorrow's Hacketts Irish Cesarewitch will be a big ask for a three-year-old but Taralaya looks the type to put manners on some better known older horses and thrive in the €80,000 two-mile Curragh marathon.
John Oxx's fast improving filly is seeking a four-in-a-row and despite being 11lb higher in the ratings for winning at headquarters on her last start she still looks open to more progress. That last victory came on ground that many feared would be too soft for her but, like the step up from a mile and a half, it proved to hold no fears for the Aga Khan-owned runner.
In fact the going should be slightly more in her favour this time, the two miles is likely to come into the same category, and Oxx has a history of landing this event with improving younger horses like Sinndar's dam Sinntara in 1992. Some well known National Hunt names are in tomorrow's line-up including the former dual Champion Hurdler Hardy Eustace but it should still prove profitable to stick with Taralaya.
The Cesarewitch may well end up being the centrepiece of a memorable day for the Oxx team as Belle Of The Lodge can also continue improving in the apprentice race and better ground should be suitable for Flash McGahon in the premier handicap. Mourilyan is also an interesting runner in the concluding mile-and-a-quarter maiden having been highly regarded before his only start of 2007 last April.
L'Ancresse earned her ticket to the Breeders' Cup filly and mare back in 2003 when winning the Rathbarry Finale Stakes and All My Loving's connections will be hoping for something similar and get to Monmouth Park next weekend in the same race. However, O'Brien also throws the expensive Montjeu filly Uimhir A Haon into the race and there could well be better value with this Gowran third rather than her more famous stable companion.
The champion trainer drops Savethisdanceforme back from Group One class to Listed level tomorrow and it should yield a black type victory based on a fine fourth to Zarkava in the Prix Marcel Boussac at Longchamp on Arc weekend.
