Smart Impression ran a nice race on her first start for Danny Murphy at Dundalk last time and can step forward to open her account on Friday evening.
The Elzaam filly gave her rivals a bit of a headstart, missing the kick, but stayed on nicely when fourth to Cross Border in a tight finish.
She was beaten less than a length at the line and shaped like this step back up to six furlongs would suit.
Connections also fit her with cheekpieces, presumably in a bid to sharpen her up early on, and having been eased a pound since her last run she looks nicely placed to strike.
Oisin McSweeney also takes a useful 5lb off her back as well to ease her top-weight burden.
It’s a competitive little race for the six-furlong three-year-old handicap and The Poacher Daly looks like an obvious danger.
The Inns Of Court colt chased home Eddie G over course and distance last month, when making most of the running and getting collared inside the final furlong.
He had Mary Shoelaces behind in third that day and may be able to confirm placings. Joseph O’Brien claims 7lb off The Poacher Daly which looks like a help.
O’Brien has a few live chances and How About No gets the vote in the following mile-and-a-half maiden.
The Galiway gelding was well supported on his sole outing at Navan in October and showed promise when sixth to Bay Of Sanibel.
He is entitled to improve from that initial effort and this looks a weaker contest.
Well-bred newcomer Al Mudhaffar is interesting in the mile maiden.
He now runs in the colours of Qatari connections having been bought for 145,000 guineas as a yearling.
The son of Wootton Bassett is a half-brother to a decent sort in Don Diego De Vega, who won twice in France and was Listed placed.
Hoover Dam sets the standard in the race with a mark of 75. Luke Comer’s charge ran well here when denied by another O’Brien-trained newcomer, Western City.
Comer’s best chance of a winner may be the consistent Dark Street in the concluding 10-furlong handicap.
The three-time course and distance winner bumped into a well handicapped rival in Moondharrig here last time and is only a pound higher now.
SELECTIONS
3.47 Billboa
4.22 Tai Sing Yeh
4.57 Al Mudhaffar
5.30 James Henry
6.00 Staysound Susie
6.30 Smart Impression (Nap)
7.00 How About No
7.30 Dark Street (Dbl)
