Race 1: Dennison Commercials Ltd 4yo Maiden
Colin Bowe won the opening race of the season at Castletown-Geoghegan last Sunday and he looks to have a strong hand here with both Rath An Iuir and BIG DIFFERENCE. The former ran well at both Loughanmore and Taylorstown last season and is sure to go close, whilst his well-bred stablemate Big Difference also ran well on debut as he finished behind Court Liability who was a winner at Fontwell last weekend. The locally trained Blue Flight, Oscar Flame and Home Place are others with claims.
Race 2: Jacksons Butcher Shop & Bakery 5&6yo Mares Maiden
MILAN DANCER is doubly entered on this card and whichever race she lines up in, she would hold strong chances having ran well in both four-year-old maidens and on the track in the past. This could be the tougher race, however, with Lovefromabove and Frozen Motion both bringing placed form into the race. Lovefromabove finished placed behind Glenmona at Portrush, a mare who has since run well under rules for new connections to advertise that form, whilst Frozen Motion was a beaten favourite at Dromahane last May when finishing third behind Dinos Benefit. Questionation is also of interest.
Race 3: Stonebridge Premium Feeds 5yo Geldings Maiden
In a wide-open looking race, CARCANO may well be the horse worth siding with. The Ian Ferguson-trained son of Arcadio is well-bred and he ran particularly well at Kirkistown when last seeing competitive action 11-months ago by finishing a close fourth. Dance The Rapids and Largy Legs would seem closely matched, whilst Captain Cook has finished placed in an English point at Dingley but was unable to make much of an impression in two bumpers during the summer.
Race 4: Islandbawn Winners Of Two
Manetti obliged at short-odds on his second career start at Portrush last March, and whist he disappointed on his only subsequent start when finishing last in an Ayr bumper, a return between the flags could spark a rejuvenated effort. He may have to step however to beat CAPTAIN CJ who looks to be on an upward curve following victories at both Oldtown and Kirkistown last season. Benarty Hill was lightly campaigned last season, however, he did finish second in this race 12 months ago and is likely a contender once again, alongside Celtic Thunder who is back point-to-pointing following a spell on the track which saw him finished placed at Wexford in June.
Race 5: Enviro Care N.I Ltd Open
Former Grade-1 winner FELIX YONGER outclassed his rivals in two starts between the flags last season at Kirkistown and Portrush and he will look to follow-up the impressive success of his stable companion Call Me Bubbles in the same race 12-months ago. Venitien De Mai, the winner of the 2016 Leinster National, who was last seen running in the Kim Muir at the Cheltenham Festival in March, is a very capable alternative. The ex-Willie Mullins 136-rated chaser Sambremont is set to make his debut for David Christie and would look the pick of the others.
Race 6: Lagan Cement Products Ltd 6yo Maiden
The Noel Kelly-trained MILAN DANCER has some notable four-year-old form to her name and if she was able to re-capture some of those runs, she would look to set the standard here. Ballyhowne has course form from around here to his name as he finished second in the hunt race back in 2016, but was unable to get involved on the track subsequently. Templepoint and Thinkinginmysleep are others with previous placed form.
