Certain trainers develop the winning knack in certain races, and while the Derrinstown Birdcatcher Nursery has hardly been a pot of joy in the past for Dermot Weld, maybe La Stellina can change the pattern at Naas tomorrow.
Weld has won the Birdcatcher just the once, with Desert Thunder in 1991, which is hardly spectacular by his standards and pales in comparison with Jim Bolger, who won the £30,000 sprint five times in the 1990s.
Bolger runs three tomorrow, but a horse that most of the field will have in their sights is Wednesday`s Navan winner,Reilly Mac, who represents Ted Walsh and John Murtagh.
That combination alone will attract support, and Reilly Mac was impressive when racing to an easy length victory on the stand side of the track during the week.
This is a much more competitive event, however, and as long as the ground doesn`t become an absolute bog, La Stellina looks to hold a reasonable each-way chance.
The Marju filly broke her maiden by half a length at Cork from the useful Patinham but is proven over this trip and looks to have a reasonable draw in 17.
Aidan O`Brien`s focus may be overseas tomorrow, as he runs both Chiang Mai and Apollo Victoria in the Prix Royal Oak (French St Leger) at Longchamp as well as letting King`s County take his chance in the Group One Gran Criterium in Milan.
However, the Ballydoyle trainer can make his usual impressionin the juvenile races at home, as Ishiguru should go one better than his neck second at Newmarket in the opener and Rose Gypsy will be hard to beat in the Castlemartin Stud Fillies Maiden.
There is a British runner in the Listed Retza & Soudavar Garnet Stakes, with Gerard Butler sending Penang Pearl and Eddie Ahern taking the ride. There isn`t much between the bulk of the home runners and Penang Pearl did run second on the soft to Bold King at Goodwood on the last of her two starts this term. She should be fresh and she is an Ascot winner from last year. Kimberley took care of Trevino and Carmelite at Cork and on the basis of that doesn`t look badly treated in the Barrett Handicap Hurdle.
Rose Quartz was quite a warm order at the Curragh last Sunday for a two-mile handicap but faded badly in the straight behind Pass Possible. However, afterwards it was discovered that the Lammtarra filly had swallowed her tongue in the race and the effort is best ignored. The support in the ring before the race shouldn`t be, however, and those worried about the drop in trip should look to a fourth to Grand Finale over nine furlongs in April.
