Viscaria to fulfil Curragh promise

Following a stable in form is a basic rule of thumb, but it can pay off in spades at today's mixed Dundalk fixture where the …

Following a stable in form is a basic rule of thumb, but it can pay off in spades at today's mixed Dundalk fixture where the yards of Noel Meade, Arthur Moore and Jim Bolger look sure to be prominent,

Bolger's record towards the end of the flat season has been particularly noteworthy and at the Curragh last Friday he achieved a career first when saddling the first three home in a race.

It was the two-year-old maiden won by Invoque, and although the race was devalued slightly by the withdrawal of the likely favourite Slip Sliding, the third home, Viscaria, showed enough to suggest she is up to taking the Boyne Maiden.

The Barathea filly was bang in contention a furlong out, only to hang to the right and fail to her stablemates by a length and a half and a neck. Viscaria should improve significantly for the experience and Bolger should have a line to Indian Desert through his Punchestown winner, Tushna. The Tipperary fourth, Handsome Anna, could be the one to follow Viscaria home.

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Calladine, a winner over seven furlongs at the Curragh, struck over 10 furlongs at Clonmel yesterday in a 0-65 race and if allowed her chance in the 0-60 Collon Handicap, can complete a hat-trick over different and ascending trips.

Forli Des Ormeaux ran a fine race to be an eight-lengths second to It's Time For A Win over the course and distance last time and that experience can prove vital when he takes on the smart hurdler River Pilot in the beginners' chase.

Arthur Moore's horse is rated over a stone inferior to River Pilot over flights but chasing is a different test, one that Forli Des Ormeaux at this stage looks more likely to pass.

River Pilot's trainer Noel Meade is selected in the opener with Aim High, who ran a decent fifth in a hot Gowran maiden behind Senanjar, Brigade Charge and Sunday's Punchestown winner, Vanilla Man; while Icydora, a daughter of the stamina-laden Cyborg, can go one better than her second to Sungazer at Leopardstown in the Carlingford Maiden. Significantly, Tony Martin's filly attracted some decent support in the Leopardstown market.

Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor

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