Hurricane Sky© Photo Healy Racing
Hurricane Sky bids to secure his second victory in the space of seven days in the Buy Online At TipperaryRaces.ie Handicap at Tipperary.
The JP McManus-owned six-year-old clinched his first success in over two years at Leopardstown last week, building on a couple of solid placed efforts on the level having failed to set the world alight over hurdles during the winter.
Trainer Charles O'Brien has decided his turn his charge out quickly under a penalty in Thursday's finale and is anticipating another bold show.
O'Brien said: "He seems to have come out of his last race well and he went up 8lb for that, so he's officially 3lb well-in.
"It doesn't look a great race and hopefully he'll run well again."
Hurricane Sky is set to face eight rivals over a mile and three-quarters, with Wood Breizh perhaps his biggest threat.
The five-year-old is champion NH trainer Willie Mullins' only runner on the card and made a pleasing return to action when third over hurdles at Roscommon a little over three weeks ago.
O'Brien is represented in the penultimate race of the evening, with 11-race maiden Russian Roulette also carrying the McManus silks in the TipperaryRaces.ie Handicap.
"He ran a bit better in Gowran last time than he had done previously and I would say he'll want every inch of this trip (mile and a half)," said O'Brien.
Kevin Prendergast 's Jealous Beauty and the Eddie Lynam-trained Foxen look set to fight out the opening Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Maiden, while Pat Martin's Red All Star runner-up at Naas last week, might be the answer to the Pride Of Tipperary Festival 2015 Handicap. Spartan's Queen shaped with plenty of promise when fourth on her debut at Leopardstown three weeks ago and is the best of those with experience in the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Fillies Maiden.
However, newcomers from the stables of Dermot Weld, Jessica Harrington and Jim Bolger make it an interesting heat.
The Follow @TipperaryRaces On Twitter Race is the most valuable race of the fixture, with Ado McGuinness' stable stalwart Bubbly Bellini looking to give weight and a beating to Weld's Alkasser Bolger's Intensical and Father Frost from Aidan O'Brien's yard. Art Scene bolted up at Cork last month for Pat Flynn and with Pat Smullen booked, she has every chance of following up in the Tipperary Ladies Day Saturday 11th July Handicap.
