Racing Irish PreviewsThe year's most valuable pot in the North of Ireland highlights Down Royal's card today and the lightly weighted Mr Wong looks the one to be on.The forecast "firm" going looks like being the crucial factor in the €75,000 Charles Hurst Ulster Derby and one of the few that will actively relish that surface is the Jessica Harrington-trained runner.
A total of four career victories have all come on fast going and Harrington has admitted in the past that Mr Wong can hardly move fast enough to get out of his own way on anything softer.
That provides an explanation for his last start at the Punchestown Festival but an earlier success at Cork indicates the kick Mr Wong can find on a firm footing.
He will need to find it too as Dermot Weld, successful in 2000 with Media Puzzle, runs both the topweight Quality Team and the former Stakes performer Stage Affair.
Another danger could be Golly Gosh who represents the in-form Michael Halford team but off his lightweight, and on this ground, Mr Wong can do them all for toe.
Another one to examine at Down Royal, in the Ulster Oaks, should be Maigue Princess whose Gowran success was boosted by Thursday night's win for Dbest at Clonmel. The Jim Bolger team also looks to have turned the corner after fighting the virus for much of the season.
The Aidan O'Brien A-Team are scheduled to be at Longchamp tomorrow where Spartacus and Alberto Giacometti are declared to run in the Grand Prix de Paris.
Back home at Gowran, O'Brien runs two in the two-year-old maiden but the Halford trained Caparo was a good second to Oversighted on his Leopardstown debut and that experience could prove crucial.
Dermot Weld has the Theatrical filly Rumansy in the fillies maiden and this is another that should actively relish the fast going.
Certaintly the rating of 80 she has earned so far might not reflect her true ability.
Englishtown is not as certain to thrive on the going but it's worth chancing that it does make a significant difference to the John Oxx horse, a beaten favourite last time, in the mile and six handicap.
Tomorrow's other fixture is at Navan where the Ballydoyle team are also represented in the handicap chase courtesy of Kilcash Castle.
A better bet, however, should be the Tralee winner Wouldn't You Agree in the novice chase.
