Sales race highlight at Fairyhouse

The €150,000 Tattersalls Ireland Super Auction Sale Stakes is the highlight on a seven race Flat card at Fairyhouse this afternoon, where racegoers can enjoy a new Tote Sports Lounge and admission is just €5.

A maximum field of 18 runners got to post for the feature with the Mick Channon-trained Gatepost and Phoenix Stakes third Tough As Nails likely to head the market.

Michael Mulvany plans to revert to more forceful tactics with Tough As Nails following a slightly disappointing fifth under a waiting ride in last weekend's National Stakes at the Curragh.

Mulvany said: "He seems to have come out of the race well and hopefully he'll give a good account of himself.

"We didn't use his strengths in the National Stakes the other day. We held him up and we'll probably play a different game this week and ride him a bit more positively. It's a nice pot and you have to take a chance. It would be nice to see him win a race like this."

Kevin Prendergast fires two bullets as Azamata turns out eight days after filling the runner-up spot on his debut, and is joined by two-time-winning stablemate Blue Mimosa

Prendergast said: "Azamata is a nice horse and ran well at the Curragh the other day. I thought he might as well take his chance as there is some decent money on offer. Blue Mimosa has won twice and the softer the ground the better for her."

Richard Hannon saddled the classy Dick Turpin to take this prize a couple of years ago and this time sends Wolverhampton winner Three Am Tour on the trip to Ireland.

The champion trainer told his website, www.richardhannonracing.tv: "Three Am Tour is a nice Strategic Prince filly and she was not unfancied when she won first time out at Wolverhampton.

"It was probably not much of a race, but she quickened up well, and Hughesie (Richard Hughes) gave her a spin at Herridge on Wednesday and was very pleased. This is a jump in class, but these are valuable races and you have got to have a go."

The going is yielding to soft, soft in places, at the Co. Meath venue with the first race scheduled for 2.15pm.

Meanwhile the going will be very testing for Ballinrobe's final meeting of 2011 tomorrow. The ground is now officially described as heavy, and the weather forecast is for further rain tonight followed by another band of rain tomorrow afternoon.