Punchestown will stage its first post-festival fixture this evening, with Dlauro, a £410,000 purchase after winning his only point-to-point (at Belharbour in February of last year) set to make his eagerly-awaited debut in the bumper.
Earlier, Charles Byrnes provides the evening’s nap, Run For Mary, winner of bumpers at Limerick and Down Royal last summer, in the Host Tour Event At Punchestown Mares Maiden Hurdle.
And course winner Kildorrery might swoop late for Michael Stenson and Ted Walsh in the Punchestown race And Dine Handicap Chase.
Princess Vega makes successful debut in Tramore
On the local front, Princess Vega, the first foal o multiple Cheltenham festival and Grade 1 winner Quevega, made a successful debut in the opening maiden hurdle in Tramore yesterday.
Willie Mullins admitted, “I got a big thrill out of that. She was as green as grass and only got the hang of things in the last half-mile. She’s stronger than she looks and will keep going for the summer.”
O'Brien's Japan set for York meeting
Aidan O’Brien’s Japan will face eight rivals, including Europe’s to juvenile of 2018 Too Darn Hot, in tomorrow’s Group 2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes in York.
Japan, a son of Galileo, ended his two-year-old campaign with a narrow win over stable-companion Mount Everest (currently on the easy list) in the Group 2 Beresford Stakes in Naas.
And, significantly, O’Brien will be represented in the two-year-old maiden on York’s Thursday card, by Hong Kong, an American Pharoah half-brother to Caravaggio.
Peter O'Hehir's tips
5.45. AUTHORIZED ART
6.15. RUN FOR MARY
6.45. PARTY PLAYBOY
7.15. KILDORRERY
7.45. FARCLAS
8.15. MAC N CHEESE
8.45. DLAURO
Next Best
5.45. BATTS ROCK
6.15. LAUREATE
6.45. NAPOLEON BLUE
7.15. JETZ
7.45. OR JAUNE DE SOMOZA
8.15. CARLITOS BAY
8.45. ARGENT ET OR
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