Tombelaine© Photo Healy Racing
Tombelaine and East India lock horns in the Listed Coolmore Canford Cliffs Stakes at Tipperary this evening, with King Christophe adding further spice to the mix.
Dermot Weld's Tombelaine won on his debut at Leopardstown in June and went down by just three-quarters of a length in the Group Three Tyros Stakes on his next start.
East India won on his debut at the Curragh on Derby Day when sent off a well-backed 11-2 chance.
The well-bred son of Galileo is a half-brother to recent Royal Hunt Cup winner Field Of Dream, and he is sure to be well-fancied to make it two wins on the bounce here.
King Christophe did it well when getting off the mark at Killarney last month and his trainer Patrick Prendergast was full of praise for the Duke Of Marmalade colt after the success. Convergence was just a head behind Tombelaine in the Tyros and he is another with leading claims while maidens Cocoon, Dudes And Diamonds and Bunk Off Early complete the line-up.
The opening contest on the card is the McGrath Oil Maiden over five furlongs and Simply A Star and Spirit Of Wedza appear the two to focus on here, with newcomer Aggression another one to keep an eye on.
Nine have been declared for the Connolly's Red Mills Handicap and it's hard to rule any of them out, with Lady Mega and Shipyard sure to feature prominently in the betting. Beau Michael (Katie Walsh) and Lilly The Lioness (Katie O'Farrell) both ran well at Galway last week and they appear to have solid claims in the competitive Follow Tipperary Races On Facebook Lady Riders Handicap. Millington Anner Queen and Right First are three for the shortlist in the TipperaryRaces.ie Apprentice Handicap, while Looper looks the one to beat in the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Median Auction Fillies Maiden after she ran a fine race on her debut at Fairyhouse last month.
