The Happy Prince, near side© Photo Healy Racing
The Happy Prince should relish the forecast soft ground at Naas on Wednesday evening when he runs in the valuable Woodlands 100 Club Handicap over six furlongs.
Aidan O'Brien's 93-rated colt steps into handicap company for the first time and has to give weight away to all eight rivals. Crucially though, he won his maiden on soft going at Limerick last month.
A runner-up finish to Postulation at Dundalk last-time out should leave him primed for this 50,000 euro contest.
Recent winners Great Wide Open, Penny Pepper and Ohh Lala head the dangers, while Disprove makes her Irish debut for Tom Hogan having been trained in Britain by Hugo Palmer. She was last seen down the field in a Group Three at Ayr in September and a hood is fitted for the first time.
Jim Bolger has landed the last two runnings of the Irish Stallion Farms EBF (Fillies) Maiden for two-year-olds, so his Special Focus merits close consideration.
This daughter of Intense Focus was beaten four and a half-lengths into second on debut at Navan on yielding ground. A nose behind in third came O'Brien's Californiadreaming who reopposes again.
Impressive course and distance winner Argentero carries a 4lb penalty in the Fishery Lane Race.
His trainer Ger Lyons saddled subsequent Group Three-victor Cappella Sansevero to victory in this six-furlong contest last year.
Bolger introduces Round Two, while more will be expected from O'Brien's Waterloo Bridge who was sixth on debut.
Dermot Weld bids for a hat-trick in the Kill (C & G) Maiden over a mile and two furlongs.
Sight Hound looks the best of his pair on the back of being edged out by a short head in Clonmel over the same trip. Pat Smullen takes the ride in preference to Royal Ascot Trip who was 10th at this track last month.
O'Brien's Los Barbados was a beaten favourite in the Curragh when promoted from fourth to third place. Considering he finished less than a length off the winner he has to be a threat.
Vasoni got her head in front at Sligo on heavy ground and attempts to follow up in the naasracecourse.com Apprentice Handicap. Robbie Downey has been booked by Timothy Doyle.
Last year's winner Regal Power has been dropping down the weights and showed a return to form when third here at the end of April. He can make his presence felt from stall one.
Weld and Smullen team up with Chinese Light in the mile maiden for fillies which concludes the card. This grey filly has been turned over at short odds in her last two appearances.
Mick Halford's Duchessofflorence and O'Brien's Outstanding can both give her plenty to think about.
