Rayisa among nine for Defence Forces Trophy Rayisa tops the weights for the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Fillies Handicap For The Defence Forces Trophy and nine runners are set to contest Sunday's mile event at the Curragh. Michael Halford's Rayisa came forward from her first run of the season when upped in trip to finish third behind Simannka, also owned by the Aga Khan, in the Ulster Oaks Handicap at Down Royal in the middle of last month. The daughter of Holy Roman Emperor didn't appear to quite stay on that occasion, so it wasn't surprising to see Shane Foley's mount back over a mile at Naas last time. A 7-1 shot then, Rayisa wasn't able to return a dividend for her each-way backers, but her effort when third of seven was commendable nonetheless. The three-year-old was clear of the remainder when just a short head and three-parts of a length off Whiskey Sour and Tony The Gent. It will be no easy task for the Halford runner, and course and distance winner Rose De Pierre, victorious here in a maiden at the start of May, looks a big danger to all on her handicap debut. The Tullip is another with eyecatching form, and her rider Billy Lee is on an interesting type in A Little Bit Me in the opening QIPCO European Breeders Fund Fillies Maiden. Tommy Stack's representative is one of 11 first-timers in the opener at 2.00. Obviously the market will have to be watched closely for this six-furlong heat. Lee is on John Grogan's Nuclear Option in the Chapman's Mitsubishi Kildare Fillies Maiden, while Pocket Of Stars is a well-bred debutant for John Oxx who is entitled to consideration, along with Surprisingly. That one is well-named seeing as she's in the ownership of Mrs John Magnier, but she has Dermot Weld and Pat Smullen in the training and riding roles. Sheikh Fahad Al Thani rode Almagest to win the Newmarket Town Plate recently, gaining enormous pleasure from an initial victory in the saddle. Of course a member of the Qatari ruling family and a powerful racehorse owner, the Sheikh will don the Gigginstown House Stud colours on Beau Et Sublime in the Corinthian Challenge Charity Race. Television racing presenter and daughter of Lester, Tracy Piggott is on Rock The World. Jessica Harrington is giving Rock The World a pipe-opener here ahead of a Galway Hurdle bid.
