Colour Blue© Photo Healy Racing
Trainer Willie McCreery is keeping his fingers crossed a drop in trip does not inconvenience Colour Blue too much when she faces three opponents in the Boston Access Supporting Console Fillies Race at Naas on Wednesday evening.
The daughter of Holy Roman Emperor opened her account for the year in determined fashion at Killarney on her penultimate start before turning in arguably a career-best effort to finish third in a valuable handicap at the Curragh a week and a half ago.
McCreery said: "She seems in good form and won't mind the ground, so hopefully she'll run well.
"She ran a good race up in the Curragh over seven furlongs the last day. Six furlongs is probably a bit on the short side for her, but there are only four runners and we're happy to let her take her chance.
"She has the right draw in stall one and Tom (Madden) takes off a valuable seven pounds.
"It's an open contest and everyone will pick up some prize-money."
Eddie Lynam 's Yulong Baoju heads the weights, with Dermot Weld's Calibrate and the Ger Lyons-trained Bilderberg completing the quartet.
The Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Fillies Maiden gets the seven-race card under way, with David Wachman's Sexy Legs likely to be popular.
Narrowly beaten on her Curragh debut, the two-year-old disappointed when well fancied for the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot but faces a far less taxing assignment this time.
Jim Bolger 's Fairyhouse runner-up Cruidin and Johnny Murtagh's Tipperary second Puck Fair are the two most obvious dangers.
Andrew Slattery 's Ucanchoose bids to complete a hat-trick in the Montane Developments Supporting Console Handicap, while Wachman's Crescent and Bolger's Dunquin are opposed by plenty of interesting newcomers in the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund (C & G) Maiden.
The Irish Stallion Farms Eurpoean Breeders Fund Fillies Maiden is another strong heat, with McCreery hoping Affectionate Lady can build on two promising efforts.
McCreery said: "She's an honest filly and six furlongs was a bit sharp for her the last day, so stepping up to a mile will suit her.
"She has a good draw (stall two) and a good man on board in Pat Smullen.
"It does look a hot race and we'll know a bit more about where we're going afterwards, but hopefully she won't be too far away." Muscle Beach Derulo and Longton all line up in the Hevac Supporting Console Handicap off the back of victories. Panama Hat is on a four-timer in the concluding Stuart Insurances Supporting Console Handicap.
