Intisaab leads home Ardhoomey last year© Photo Healy Racing
Intisaab and Ardhoomey the first two home in the Scurry Handicap 12 months ago, will do battle again in the valuable six-furlong prize at the Curragh today.
David O’Meara’s North Yorkshire raider got the better of the Ger Lyons-trained Ardhoomey by three-quarters of a length last year, and the latter is 3lb better off as he seeks revenge on Saturday.
Lyons has two other contenders in a 20-runner field. They are stable stalwart Medicine Jack and Buffer Zone — who got off the mark over this course and distance on his first run after joining the County Meath handler from Roger Charlton’s Beckhampton yard. Manshood from Paul Midgley’s North Yorkshire stable, bids to go one better after finishing second to fellow British challenger El Astronaute — who is in action on Sunday — in the Rockingham Handicap over five furlongs at this track last month.
Gordon Elliott won the Kildare Village Ladies Derby with the Lisa O’Neill-ridden Batts Rock last summer, and attempts to double up with Ingenuity in a 14-runner field.
His main rival in the jumps trainers’ ranks, Willie Mullins, relies on Royal Illusion — who has transferred decent bumper form to Flat rules, winning her last starts at Bellewstown and Leopardstown.
John Kiely ’s Forest View the Sheila Lavery-trained Galeola and Richard Brabazon’s Hayyel also bring recent winning form to the table.
Ken Condon ’s Crafty Madam has six rivals over a mile in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF (Fillies) Handicap as she goes for a second win in three starts since her move from Clive Cox’s stable in Lambourn.
After finishing second at Leopardstown last month on her debut for Condon, following a 213-day absence, the daughter of Mastercraftsman got up in the final strides to beat Surrounding by a short head in a 12-runner premier handicap over seven furlongs.
