Andrew McNamara`s team for the Galway Festival is beginning to take shape, with Expat and Shareef Khan both heading for Ballybrit after scoring at Clonmel yesterday evening.
Expat put in a fine round of jumping under Ruby Walsh in the Clancy Construction Beginners Chase to record a 15 lengths victory over Tara Sound. The six-year-old gelding, left clear after two out where Kingstanding made a bad blunder and Babe Ruth fell, will go for a winners event at Killarney next month, and `the Plate is a possibility at Galway if he can get into the handicap`.
The GPT amateur handicap is the main target for Shareef Khan, who supplied stable claimer Keith Hadnett (23) with his third winner in the Midsummers Day Maiden Hurdle. The well-bred Alzao gelding, who is out of a half-sister to Shahrastani, jumped to the front at the last to beat Wensum Dancer by four and a half lengths.
`He will go next for a two miles handicap at the Curragh on Derby day, and the GPT is the long-term target`, said the Limerick handler.
Cork trainer Paul Cashman is also considering a tilt at the GPT with Sail With The Wind, who recorded her third win this year in the June Handicap. The four-year-old filly dug deep in the straight for Philip Carberry to beat Bob`s Gone by a length and a half.
`She stays every yard of that trip (12 furlongs), and should get further. I may try her over an extra two furlongs at Bellewstown, and we will have a better idea about the GPT after that`, said Cashman, who is also an accomplished amateur rider.
Quest For A Star, the first foal of Breeders Cup heroine Ridgewood Pearl, was expected to take the opening Slievenamon Maiden following his promising second to Hans Anderson at Cork. However the 1/3 chance found little under pressure in the straight, and had to settle for third place behind Natalie Know`s.
Aquila Oculus was prominent throughout for Seamus Heffernan in the Suir Handicap, and Tony Mullins` charge struck the front off the home bend to beat Perfect Tripby three lengths.
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