FAIRYHOUSE PREVIEW:THE BENEFITS of impending motherhood can be advertised once again in this afternoon's Fairyhouse feature where the in-foal Miss Gorica looks to have her ideal conditions in place.
A total of 10 runners line up for the Listed Belgrave Stakes and the combination of six furlongs on fast ground, along with no British raiders, should place Miss Gorica at the forefront of events.
Joanna Morgan’s mare is in foal to Dylan Thomas and the theory that pregnancy can boost form looked to be boosted at Naas back in May when Miss Gorica secured a Stakes victory over Rain Delayed.
After that she proved best of the Irish when beaten by a trio of British raiders in the Ballyogan but finished stone last over five furlongs in the Sapphire before running third over seven furlongs here in the Brownstown Stakes.
Miss Gorica tried to make all that day and it was only in the closing stages that she gave best to Berg Bahn and Velvet Flicker who opposes again today.
A stall eight draw should allow Miss Gorica jump and lead again this time but her best form has been over six furlongs and this time the opposition may find it difficult to peg her back.
Yesterday’s July Cup winner Johnny Murtagh will be in action on a number of Ballydoyle runners and the best of them should be Juliet Capulet in the opening maiden. Third in a Group Three at Naas, she was well beaten in the Albany at Royal Ascot but this is a much softer assignment.
Murtagh also looks to have a good ride for David Wachman in the seven-furlong maiden on A Mind Of Her Own whose form with Kitty Kiernan and Lillie Langtry last year earned her an official mark of 96.
Pencil Hill was a noticeably well-backed favourite for the lucrative National Lottery sprint at the Curragh on Derby weekend but failed to get in a blow.
Tracey Collins’s classy type can make his presence felt in the six-furlong handicap on his best form.
The ex-Barry Hills trained Makhaaleb is an interesting contender for the mile-and-a-quarter handicap for the in-form Gordon Elliott.
