Moscow Express won the Aer Rianta Shannon Handicap Chase en route to landing the Galway Plate last year so tomorrow`s Tipperary feature has established its credentials as a Galway trial. There`s no Moscow Express this time but Super Franky is selected to come out on top in the build-up to Galway.
The Charles Byrnes-trained stayer actually ran behind Moscow Express at Killarney on Monday and did well enough, finishing eight lengths off him in third.
Another eight lengths behind him was today`s topweight, Treble Bob, who is now 7lbs worse off so a bigger danger could come from the classy Nicholls Cross. This one`s jumping could be an issue, and this is also the case with the selection`s stablemate Beacon Lane, who also fell at Killarney.
The seven-furlong handicap is actually the most valuable pot of the day and it`s a competitive heat Mulhern trained Mulhern-trained Dame Portia is just given the nod. An impressive success at Roscommon indicates that seven furlongs is this horse`s trip.
Aidan O`Brien saddles the Storm Cat filly Dietrich in the opener. She was surprisingly beaten by Mountain Greenery on her debut over the course and distance but looked to step up on that when fourth in Royal Ascot`s Windsor Castle Stakes. Here she has to face the Down Royal winner Tender Cove but should be up to the task.
John Oxx`s Fantasia Girl ran well enough on her debut behind McDab at Leopardstown to warrant the vote over Cutting The Edge in the nine-furlong maiden, and the in-form Charlie Swan can take the bumper courtesy of Abinitio Lady.
Points sets new record THREE Points shattered a course record by more than two seconds at Newbury yesterday.
The colt whizzed home by four lengths in the ANAC Italian Sales Thoroughbred Breeders Association Stakes in one minute 21.5 seconds, lowering by 2.34 seconds the previous best over the straight seven furlongs on this track set by Celestial Key in June 1995.
Jockey Richard Quinn went on to clinch a 17 to 1 double when Alpen Wolf denied Hunting Tiger by a neck in the Tote Jackpot Handicap.
