Dropping in class, Soul Search will be strongly-fancied to open her account in the listed Ballyhane Blenheim 2-Y-0 Stakes in Fairyhouse.
This Ger Lyons-trained filly has already performed creditably in Group 1, 2 and 3 company and has been found a good opportunity to bag valuable winning black type.
Narrowly beaten by subsequent Group 1 winner Love on her debut at Leopardstown, Soul Search, a daughter of Zoffany, was tried in Group 3 company in the ‘Anglesey’ at the Curragh, where she finished a close third to Roman Turbo, with Pistoletto back in sixth.
Facing a stiffer task in the Group 2 ‘Debutante’ next time, she was beaten less than a length in third spot behind Alpine Star.
And, last time, in the Group 1 ‘Moyglare’, she travelled strongly and looked a possible winner until fading late and finishing fourth to old rival Love.
The drop to six furlongs and into listed company should suit Soul Search. And she’s expected to cope with Michael Halford’s colt Zarziyni, successful on his debut in Gowran Park before finishing in the frame behind Armory in the ‘Tyros’ at Leopardstown and the ‘Round Tower’, won by Lope Y Fernandez, at the Curragh.
On a tough supporting card, First Thing might continue Noel Meade’s good season with his juveniles, in the six-furlong Foran Equine EBF 2-Y-0 Auction Maiden.
A gelded son of Dawn Approach, this fellow stepped-up on his debut run (finished in mid-field behind Sinawann at the Curragh) when finishing third to Ballydoyle colt Santiago in a mile maiden at Listowel.
Dropping back to six furlongs, he should be open to further improvement. And it’s significant that Colin Keane is booked to ride, although his boss Ger Lyons has two runners in the race.
Lyons and Keane combine in the opening claimer with 81-rated Vormir, a convincing winner of a similar event in Naas last Wednesday and weighted to confirm form with runner-up Be Like The Bird.
Despite a hefty 15lb. hike in the ratings for his maiden success at Gowran Park, Andy Slattery’s progressive three-year-old Metier gets the nod in the finale, the Winter Festival Handicap.
Metier bolted-up by six lengths in his maiden, beating newcomer Bashiyr, which went on to land his maiden on the same track before landing a rated event (off 85) in Galway last Tuesday.
Slattery’s charge might still be feasibly-rated off 87 and gets the nod over Jessica Harrington’s unbeaten Tauran Shaman, already successful in Killarney and Galway.
Metier will be ridden by apprentice title-chasing Andy Slattery, who also has prospects on Tom McCourt’s veteran My Good Brother in the earlier six-furlong 45-65 handicap.
Tips
3.15.Facethepuckout
3.45.King’s Field
4.15.Gustavus Weston
4.45.Offline
5.15.Breaking Story
5.45.Captain Power
6.15.Shore Step (Nap)
6.45.Still Standing
Next Best
3.15.Only The Brave
3.45.Laughifuwant
4.15.Flow Of Words
4.45.Vidiyni
5.15.All The King’s Men
5.45.A Likely Story
6.15.Aspen Belle
6.45.Tremendous Leap
Double: Gustavus Weston and Shore Step.
O’Hehir’s Longshot: Tuamhain (5.45.)
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