CLAN SAPPHIRE READY TO STIRKE AT CURRAHEEN PARK

Barry Drake.

The €7,500 to the winner Shelley Fennelly Memorial Open Bitch Stake gets underway at Curraheen Park tonight, and as usual, it has attracted some top-class ladies.

Recent Oaks runner-up Clan Sapphire, for the Francis Murray kennel, is the big name in the second heat, and she should have little trouble in bouncing straight back to winning ways. She delivered a couple of outstanding displays in the Oaks, and she was only beat a head in the decider, running a huge behind Lennies Ash. The selection has some great winning form around Curraheen Park, and she's expected to bounce out in front and make every yard of the running. Gortnagrange Jude is improving all the time, and from the rails pitch, she can go well for James Doody and Liam Walsh. A recent 28.67 winner around course and distance, she backed that up with another fine run last time out, showing plenty of gears behind Gaytime Clyde, in 28.17. The Kieran Lynch-trained Noon Ballad is another that should be in the mix.

In the opening heat, plenty hold chances in this. Rural Ana will be one of the leading fancies for trainer Graham Holland and owners the Scots Clan Syndicate. All about early speed, she has some big runs in the book, and if producing her quickest start, she will take plenty of catching. A 29.70 winner over the Curraheen 550-yard trip, a big run is expected in this. Cosmic View should go well from the rails pitch for Mary Kennedy. The lightly raced tracker has some eye-catching form in the book, most notably a 28.49 winning around Shelbourne Park, when getting the better of Bombay Special. Her recent trials are eye-catching, and a big display is likely from the rails pitch.

The third and final heat is the standout contest of the night. From the rails, Droopys Croia is the pick for trainer John Linehan and owner Sean Dunphy. The pacey performer has a number of high-class runs in the book, and she goes well from the inside of the track. A recent 28.34 winner around Curraheen Park, she has enough early pace to lead, and in doing so, it would take a special performance to reel her in.

The likes of Lennies Dream, for Paul Hennessy, Good Katie, for John Kennedy, and Bombay Special, for Graham Holland, are all big dangers in this. The Maurice O'Connor-trained Ballinveala Jen and the Thomas Buggy-trained Carrigeen Whit make up the sextet, and both are fantastic trackers as well. If this were a final, we would be all talking about it. The race of the weekend for me.     

In other races, Daring Diamond, for James Maguire, should take plenty of beating in the opening semi-final of the Bunty Cahill Memorial A2 Stake. That was a massive performance last week, running a huge race in defeat. The selection has bundles of early speed, and he's selected to make every yard of the running. Ballinabola Bale was another to impress last week. In the care of Breda Boyle and Patrick Sheehy, he's a real player in this line-up.

Fantasy Adam, trained by Adam Dunford for Leslie Coveney, looked a real prospect in the Denis Linehan Unraced, and he set the standard last week, winning in 28.45. Trap six is never ideal around here, but the exciting prospect is capable of overcoming the wide draw. Kilgraney North is the big danger along the rails for the kennel of Thomas Buggy.