Colour Blue (red) will bid for Listed success in the feature race on the card© Photo Healy Racing
Willie McCreery is optimistic Colour Blue can further showcase her consistent streak when she runs in the Listed Vincent O'Brien Ruby Stakes at Killarney on Wednesday.
The three-year-old filly was beaten a length into third by Dalkova in a Listed contest at the Galway Festival and was a course and distance winner in May.
McCreery said: "She's a tough little one who does nothing at home. She doesn't need to, though, as she's very clear-winded. She ran a blinder in Galway and hopefully it will be nice ground and that will suit her. She has freshened up since Galway."
The trainer added: "My concern is that she is drawn nine of 10 and it will be hard to be prominent. I don't want to burn up too much horse. She won over course and distance and zipped round the corners well from the front. She has been very consistent. Her only bad run came in Killarney and I wouldn't want her doing that again."
Mick Halford 's Mizzava is the highest-rated horse in the field. She was last seen finishing mid-division in a Group Three at the Curragh in May on soft to heavy ground.
Halford said: "She hasn't been out since May as she had a little issue, but that's sorted and she is in good form and fit and well. The good ground isn't a concern as she has form on fast ground in the Irish 1,000 Guineas and at Royal Ascot. If she runs up to her rating she should go well."
Dermot Weld 's Brooch raised many an eyebrow in Galway with the manner of her nine-and-a-half-length maiden victory and is pitched into this company on just her second start.
Jim Bolger runs Flight Risk, who is also lightly raced. He was fourth in the Group Three Phoenix Sprint Stakes on August 10 on his second racecourse appearance.
Aidan O'Brien has won four of the last five renewals of this race and he relies upon Sparrow who was unplaced in her last three runs which came at Listed level. Michael Hussey takes the ride.
Elsewhere on day one of the August Festival, Postulation aims to get Weld off the mark in the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF (C&G) Maiden for two-year-olds. There should be more to come after his second place at the Galway Festival. He has an interesting background being by North American champion juvenile sire of 2012 Harlan's Holiday.
Hannah's Magic, Duchess Andorra and Henson are separated by 3lb on official ratings and clash in the Mosscontrol.ie Apprentice Maiden. They have a string of placed efforts to their name, but perhaps this will be the day Henson gets a victory. He was squeezed for room when finishing second at Galway.
O'Brien's son Donnacha gets the leg-up on Illusive in the Cliffords Groundcare Limited Handicap. The young jockey claims 10lb and blinkers are applied on the colt's first step into a handicap, but he will have plenty of backers after winning his maiden at Leopardstown.
Recent winners Miller Beach and Amazing Star will look to make things difficult for the forecast favourite.
Tony Martin sends Anner Queen into action for the Diarmuid Cronin Electrical Handicap and the four-year-old filly could be competitive off a mark of 49. Her third place in Down Royal caught the eye before she was heavily backed but withdrawn at Tipperary. She then finished down the field at the Curragh, but that came on soft ground.
Bolger, Weld and O'Brien have a strong hand in the Bet Online At thetote.com Handicap with Solar Focus Pirate Cove and Bazaar respectively. Ridestan for Denis Hogan, though, has been in terrific form over the summer bagging three wins, including one over course and distance. Red Rocks Point looks to make the most of his superior rating when he faces four rivals in the Ladbrokes Race over a mile and three furlongs. Cosmic Cannonball is the danger.
