Right Job is sound wager

The rejuvenated Cork track hosts its first fixture of the year tomorrow and the racecourse itself seems to have confounded the…

The rejuvenated Cork track hosts its first fixture of the year tomorrow and the racecourse itself seems to have confounded the doubters by presenting officially forecast ground of "soft". There will be few doubters that Right Job and Alleged Aggressor both hold major chances in the Dairygold Handicap, and preference is for the Pat Flynn-trained Curragh winner.

Alleged Aggressor didn't win in three starts last year but impressed with his condition in a racecourse gallop with Saratgoa Springs recently. Nevertheless, Aidan O'Brien's colt has to give 3lb to Right Job, and with Danny Grant's 10lb claim sure to play a big part in this ground, Right Job is hard to get away from.

Certainly, Right Job had no problem coping with the soft at the Curragh on the season's opening day, when sprinting seven lengths clear of What A Scene and Badila and despite a furlong shorter to travel, looks well up to a follow up.

Alleged Aggressor's rider Christy Roche shouldn't leave the track empty-handed, though. He rides Family Crest in the six-furlong conditions race, and this well-regarded colt is much better than his disappointing sixth of seven to Two-Twenty-Two at the Curragh would suggest.

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Roche rides the horse he trains himself, Spokesman, in the 12-furlong maiden and the drop back in trip from his last race at the Curragh could be the key to him winning.

The three-mile novice chase will be a stamina test for the nine runners, but with Liver Bird, Solvang and Function Dream involved it's quite a good race, and preference is for Function Dream, who will thrive in the ground an may compete a four-timer.

Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor

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