Cypress Creek bids to get off the mark Aidan O’Brien’s 94-rated maiden Cypress Creek has another chance to break his duck in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden at Ballinrobe this evening. On his two most recent outings the three-year-old has finished second to stablemates Southern France and Giuseppe Garibaldi and those two subsequently ran well at Royal Ascot last week. Southern France chased home stablemate Kew Gardens in the Queen’s Vase, while Giuseppe Garibaldi was third to Old Persian in the King Edward VII. On a strict reading of his form, Cypress Creek can surely win a maiden such as this. Competition comes in the shape of Dermot Weld’s Baliyad, who has shaped well in two hot maidens to date but has ultimately been beaten a fair way both times. The progress of Richard O’Brien’s Bianca Minola stalled last time out when well beaten, but that might have been down to a drop in trip. Prior to that she had won twice and been a narrow second once all over trips to similar to the one-mile-five she faces in the Treacy’s Pharmacies Irish EBF Fillies Handicap. Only 2lb higher than when just beaten at Navan last month, she might go in again. Emmett Mullins would have been delighted with the recent run of Tornado Watch at the Curragh. A five-times winner over hurdles, he was making his debut on the Flat when second to Joseph O’Brien’s Latrobe over a mile and a half. As a nine-year-old he has had his attentions switched late in life, but faces a host of exposed rivals in the Brendan McNulty Memorial Maiden. Paddy Twomey is looking forward to running course and distance winner Bay Leaf Apprentice Handicap. The seven-year-old was beaten just half a length on his return from almost a year on the sidelines at Leopardstown earlier this month and carries top-weight under Killian Leonard. Twomey said: “Ruler Of France is in good form and he is a yard favourite. “He ran a very good race on his return at Leopardstown. I’m expecting him to run a nice race on Tuesday and I’d be hopeful he’ll go close “He has been to Ballinrobe twice and has won twice, so hopefully he can continue on in that fashion.”
