Leopardstown's first flat fixture of the year has the boost of a £40,000 guaranteed jackpot to promote its British Embassy-steered Europe Race Day. While such statements usually return to haunt, on the face of it, those hardy jackpot regulars will be fancying their chances of picking up a share of the pot with just 43 runners in the designated races. And in at least two of them, the Dermot Weld/Mick Kinane team look likely to help them out.
The Telecom Eireann Ballysax Stakes, one of three Listed races on the card, has produced a highly interesting looking clash between Weld's Make No Mistake and the admirably tough and progressive Risk Material from Aidan O'Brien's Ballydoyle yard.
Unbeaten in four starts as a juvenile, Risk Material is viewed as Group class by his trainer, but wound up last year with a sterling weight-carrying performance in a Galway nursery. Through the winter Risk Material has grown into his considerable frame, but, like some of his stable companions, he may come on for his first run of the season.
Make No Mistake, in contrast, has had only the one run at the Curragh last September, but it subsequently looks a fine effort considering the runner-up, Chateau Royal, is now Group placed, and the third, Andy Dufresene, subsequently won a Listed. The Darshaan colt is highly thought of by Weld, and if real Irish Derby aspirations are held, he must run prominently tomorrow. Chateau Royal goes in the Barclays 2,000 Guineas Trial, but here too Weld and Kinane can trump the Gladness runner-up with the Curragh winner Two-Twenty-Two. This colt was a clever winner on the opening day of the season, but on the book has as bit to find with Chateau Royal. But Chateau Royal, despite running fast for a long way in the Gladness, seemed to hang and looked quite a tricky ride. Two- Twenty-Two will pounce on any such antics this time.
Weld and Kinane can also take the Kerry Foods Handicap with Sense Of Honour. This one finished a length off Right Job at Cork on Sunday but is now 3 lb better off and the reduced claim of Right Job's apprentice rider could also be significant.
O'Brien should be on the mark in the opener, though, where he saddles the Night Shift filly Coralita, who he describes as a very sharp and fast type. Considering the juvenile strength at Ballydoyle that will be enough for most people. But in the Rover 1,000 Guineas Trial his representative, Kitza, can be frustrated by Amravati, trained by O'Brien's former mentor, Jim Bolger.
Amravati, who holds Brief Sentiment on last year's form, should have come on enough from a returning fourth to Shahtoush at the Curragh to play a major part at least. Bolger and jockey Kevin Manning are marginally preferred with Taispean in the BUPA Handicap. Down south tomorrow, Listowel host a tricky looking card, with the feature being the £10,000 Galvin Handicap Chase. Although carrying top-weight on yielding to soft ground is no easy task, Hemisphere might be up to it and Garrett Cotter's mount is the selection.
Cotter is sure to get the best out of this sound jumping animal tomorrow and Hemisphere can prove his handicap rating at the top is no accident.
Francis Flood can score a double on his father's pair, Cnocan Glas and Ciara's Prince, and in the three mile handicap hurdle, the Cork third Eddie is just preferred to Maryobee.
