Tango Pasion returned from a long lay-off to score in a maiden hurdle at the Galway festival and this evening returns to familair territory when contesting the Royal Exchange Handicap at Sligo.
Donie Hassett`s horse won the mile and a quarter contest last year off a mark of 50 and when a warm favourite. Tonight the mare runs off 64, but a repeat cannot be discounted as she is now likely to have the cut in the ground upon which she thrives.
Nevertheless, she does have to give the guts of a stone to Kerry Isle and that might just be beyond her. Kerry Isle, whose dam is a half sister to the 1994 Heinz 57 winner, Eva Luna, was fifth to She`s Wonderful at Galway over 12 furlongs but was a close third at the two pole when appearing to weaken.
It could be worth chancing that this evening`s trip will be more suitable for Kerry Isle, who can edge out Tango Pasion and the Dundalk third Miss Pavlova.
Curragh trainer Michael Grassick has had a relatively quiet season so far with six winners, but he is always a force to be reckoned with around Sligo and maybe the Eagle Eyed filly, Lough Currane, can score for him and Eddie Ahern in the two-yearold claimer.
Lough Currane ran reasonably behind Galanta at Galway and looks the best of those who have run. The College Chapel newcomer, Seviche, could be the danger.
Marcellino put in an improved performance when dropped to a sprint distance at Galway and could just be the solution to the Moat Handicap; and Michael Mor is hard to oppose in the bumper.
Twilight Buck overcame being badly hampered five out to win at Killarney, but there was no way back when he was badly hampered at the first in the Galway Plate and he was pulled up before the fifth. Off a mark of 87, he reverts to hurdles for the Reilly Motors Handicap and could have a bit in hand.
