Lucky Question

(Sheila Lavery)

Naas, June 8th

Lucky Question was a bit unlucky not to finish closer to Slaney Tide in an extended 10-furlong handicap at Naas last Saturday, but he still ran well in third and looks capable of scoring now off a mark of 50. Sheila Lavery’s gelding got caught in a pocket in the straight and had to be switched around runners to eventually gather up some momentum, finishing off his race strongly in the final furlong. He may need a stronger overall pace to score over this trip, as he seemed to lack a gear to get himself out of trouble, but this was also just his fifth ever start, and his second in a handicap, having run well when fourth at Gowran previously. He has lots of scope for progress.

Delante

(Tom Cooper)

Sligo, June 9th

The majority of the post race talk for the feature two-mile-one-furlong mares’ handicap hurdle at Sligo last Sunday centred around the winner Red Ball Of Fire, but the runner-up Delante ran a fine race and shouldn’t be underestimated in a similar race going forward. Tom Cooper’s mare led for most of the way, went clear with Red Ball Of Fire on the turn in and even when she got headed, she fought on admirably, going down by just three quarters of a length. She was given some tough assignments last season, running 13th in the Grade B Tara Handicap Hurdle and then 12th in the Paddy Mullins Mares Handicap Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival. This was much better from her at a lower level, and with this as a base, she may be able to progress forward again.

Downtherefordancin

(Gavin Cromwell)

Roscommon, June 10th

No better than 10th at the second last hurdle and eight at the last hurdle, Gavin Cromwell’s Downtherefordancin put up an eyecatching late effort to grab fourth in an extended one-mile-seven-furlong handicap hurdle at Roscommon on Monday evening. This was a career best effort from the four-year-old gelding on his sixth start, building upon his previous fifth in what was his handicap hurdle debut in Tramore. This run also came off an 86-day break, so he has lots of scope to improve now, potentially over a longer distance.

Saltonstall

(Ado McGuinness)

Leopardstown, June 13th

Ado McGuinness had four runners in the Nasrullah Handicap at Leopardstown on Thursday evening, and though none of them managed to hit the frame, he likely will have been pleased with what he saw, not least from both Sirjack Thomas and Saltonstall, who came from the rear to close right up on the leaders and set themselves up beautifully for Galway. Both are previous winners of the Colm Quinn BMW Mile, indeed Saltonstall has won that race twice and he shouldn’t be ruled out for a hat-trick bid despite his age. He ran a lovely trial here, picking up strongly off what was an average pace at best (the winner Redstone Well led from start to finish) and he was never closer than when hitting the line. He clearly loves Galway, and off a similar mark in the race last season, he got absolutely murdered in his run, and did well to even finish where he did.

Scarlett O’Hara

(Jessica Harrington)

Leopardstown, June 13th

The Group 3 Stanerra Stakes could work out to be a nice race and Scarlett O’Hara might well do her bit to boost the form. There was plenty to like about her effort to finish third to Shamida, given she raced more prominently than her old rival, racing among a host of Ballydoyle fillies, and she may just have paid for those early exertions late on. Shamida was a taking winner on the day and has Group 2 aspirations now but Scarlett O’Hara is closely matched with her, having finished just a half-length off her when the pair met in a maiden at this course earlier in the season, and she has a very similar profile as a lightly-raced three-year-old, progressing well. She is in the Irish Oaks and Lillie Langtry Stakes at Goodwood, and she will be of interest in both those races.