Preview limerick 23rd Jun

Branch Line has his sights lowered a little bit for the Croom House Stud Rated Race at Limerick on Friday evening.

Since returning for his three-year-old campaign, Andy Slattery's gelding has bumped into opponents of the calibre of Ger Lyons' useful pair Glastonbury Song and Rock In Peace, and he chased home Irish 2,000 Guineas third Irishcorrespondent and subsequent Gallinule winner Homesman at the Curragh last time.

He heads the weights for a tightly-knit affair, with Music Box continuing the busy start to her career by competing just seven days on from a second at Fairyhouse.< A Little Bit Me steps up after making a mockery of her handicap mark at Listowel, with the field completed by Ma Fee Heela and Alfredo Arcano.

Slattery also has claims in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Fillies Maiden courtesy of Cork fourth Emerald Eye, who takes on some interesting newcomers.

Dermot Weld's Aqtaar is out of the trainer's former Group Three winner Rawaaq, while Kevin Prendergast has put Iron Blue in the Moyglare and Jim Bolger takes the wraps off Realtin Geal, who is from the extended family of Dawn Approach.

Lovemenot has shown plenty of ability in her two starts so far and tries to continue her progression in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden.

Her chief threat could be Pavlenko, who turns out just fve days after struggling in the Munster Oaks, and her trainer Aidan O'Brien gives an even quicker turnaround to Tuesday's Naas winner Old Time Waltz in the Ballyduane Stud Handicap.

The Book Online At www.limerickraces.ie Claiming Race gets proceedings under way at 5.30, 15 minutes before the action in the north commences at Down Royal.

The feature on that card is thetote.com Galway Plate Trial Handicap Chase, in which five on the nine runners arrive in winning form.