There is some good midweek action at Gowran Park on Wednesday evening with a couple of Listed contests on the card.
Joseph O’Brien has leading contenders in both of the races and could bag a stakes race double.
The Piltown handler saddles two in the Vintage Tipple Stakes and Dancing Tango is a big player on her return to action.
She was last seen scoring at the same level in Naas in October when running out a convincing winner of the Bluebell Stakes.
That was on soft ground and she looked like stepping up in trip wouldn’t be a problem. The application of a tongue-tie for the first time would be the only slight doubt on her return.
Her stablemate Perfect Portrait was third behind her at Naas and looks held on that form.
A bigger danger might be the ‘Shark’ Hanlon-trained mare Enfranchise.
She ran well in a good Listed contest at Galway last September, finishing a close second to Thunder Roll and seems to handle soft ground.
In the following Victor McCalmont Memorial Stakes, Goldana looks the one to beat.
The Galileo Gold filly was made to work hard to get the job done in the Heritage Stakes at Leopardstown last time.
She got home by half-a-length from Power Under Me and this looks an easier task now back against her own sex.
An extra furlong-and-a-half shouldn’t be a problem and she has the class to give weight away to these rivals.
Johnny Murtagh has a good strike-rate around here and Ebanza can give him a winner in the opening seven-furlong maiden.
The Night Of Thunder filly was too keen early on at the Curragh on her comeback. She actually then got a bit outpaced passing the two pole before plugging on.
She looks like she wants seven furlongs but obviously she’ll need to settle better over this trip. It’s no surprise to see the application of a hood now and Ben Coen will be hoping to get her switched off.
If she does prove a bit more tractable she has enough ability to land a maiden of this standard.
The Paddy Twomey-trained Cill Mocheallog is a potential improver having shaped with promise when third on debut at Dundalk, and could be the danger.
SELECTIONS
5.20 Ebanza (Nap)
5.50 Chicago Fireball
6.20 Dancing Tango
6.50 Goldana (Dbl)
7.20 Iseult Of Ireland
7.50 Special Angel
8.20 Stormy Jenn
