Successful twice at the festival, the Tony Mullins-trained Princess Zoe should make her mark when she steps into listed company in the Ardilaun Hotel Oyster Stakes in Galway.
This mare has been a revelation since Mullins bought her from Germany, winning three of her four starts including the Connacht Hotel Amateur Handicap and the Galway Shopping Centre Handicap on this track.
Those wins at Ballybrit followed a breakthrough victory in the Ladies Derby at the Curragh. And her progress has sparked a massive leap from an initial Irish mark of 64 to a current rating of 101.
Clearly, she’ll face a much tougher task today. But Mullins has indicated a crack at the Group 1 Prix du Cadran is being considered for the five-year-old mare. And she has an opportunity here to stake her claim for such lofty targets.
Dangers are plentiful, headed by Ennistymon, generally disappointing since chasing home star stable-companion Love in the Investec Oaks, Joseph O’Brien’s Snapraeceps and 106-rated Mighty Blue and, perhaps, Barrington Court, impressive in a Bellewstown maiden and unexposed on the flat.
Having run well twice at the festival, including a fourth to Dark Voyager, Son Of Hypnos is a sporting nap selection in the Galway Apprentice Handicap.
Galway tips
4.00.Flying Visit
4.35.Dance Jupiter
5.05.Mulzamm
5.35.Malaysian
6.05.Lady Savannah
6.35.Princess Zoe
7.05.Son Of Hypnos (Nap)
7.35.Lugnaquilla
Next Best
4.00.Kyprios
4.35.Maud Gonne Spirit
5.05.Out On Friday
5.35.Royal Blend
6.05.Billyfairplay
6.35.Barrington Court
7.05.Grace To Grace
7.35.Zero Turn
Double: Son Of Hypnos and Lugnaquilla.
O’Hehir’s Longshot: Acari (5.05.)
Punchestown tips
1.20 Sister Eliza
1.55 Ruaille Buaille
2.30 Charcor
3.05 Dakota Beat
3.40 Humaniste
4.15 Gelee Blanche
4.50 Wearapinkribbon
Next Best
1.20 Dawn Over Owning
1.55 Bioverdia
2.30 Dewcup
3.05 Robinnia
3.40 Rhythm Divine
4.15 Mighty Meggsie
4.50 S’all Good Man
Double: Ruaille Buaille and Wearapinkribbon.
O’Hehir’s Longshot: Humm Baby (3.40)
