FRESH from an impressive win in the Kerry National, Gavin Cromwell has a strong hand in a busy weekend’s racing, with a two-pronged challenge in Europe’s richest handicap, the Friends Of The Curragh Irish Cesarewitch.

In his William Hill blog, the trainer reported recent Newmarket winner Sixandahalf to be in fine form. “She comes there as the young improver with a lovely racing weight. I’d be a bit disappointed by her wide draw, but it won’t be impossible from there either, and my apprentice, Robert Whearty, claims 3lb, which will be a nice little help to her chances too.”

The four-year-old is joined by last year’s fifth, the eight-year-old My Mate Mozzie, who disappointed at York last time following thirds in the Galway Hurdle and the Copper Horse Handicap at Royal Ascot.

“We were a little disappointed by his run in the Ebor, where he got unusually worked up beforehand and didn’t travel in the race as well as he can do. He seems to have come home fine – we’ve freshened him up, and we’re happy with him, so hopefully he’ll run his usual solid race.”

The pair are examples of Cromwell’s willingness to travel for the right prize, and Earls justified the trip when landing a £50,000 handicap at Haydock in April. The likeable seven-year-old returns to the track today, where he is currently second-favourite in the mile handicap (1.30).

Back at the Curragh tomorrow, Fiery Lucy seeks her second career success in the Weld Park Stakes. Runner-up in the valuable Irish EBF Ballyhane Stakes, she followed up with a gallant second in a Group 3 over a mile, and tomorrow’s seven-furlong trip looks likely to suit.