Sport

No Slouch looks good

MICHAEL TABOR can took forward to a nourishing 40-minute sandwich this afternoon with Entrepreneur (Epsom 3

Sat Jun 07 1997 - 01:00

MICHAEL TABOR can took forward to a nourishing 40-minute sandwich this afternoon with Entrepreneur (Epsom 3.45), providing the meat filling, while No Slouch (Cork 3.30) and Eternal Joy (4.10) supply the slices of bread.

No Slouch was one of the more talked about juveniles in the Aidan O'Brien stable at Ballydoyle last autumn. He had cost 190,000 guineas as a yearling and first time out at Naas was plunged on for a 21-runner maiden, sponsored by Dr A J F O'Reilly's Castlemartin Stud.

Christy Roche had him up in the front rank from the start but he did not ask him to go and win his race until well inside the last furlong and then he sprinted away to score by four lengths.

There was a less satisfactory outcome to his other race, the Bord Gas is Killavullan Stakes at the Leopardstown October Bank Holiday meeting. He was a firm odds on favourite but the script was spoiled by his stable companion Shell Ginger.

READ MORE

No Slouch and Absolute Glee both have their first run of the year at Cork this afternoon and While Sublime Beauty has been running consistently, there should be more improvement to come in the other pair. No Slouch could have the beating of Absolute Glee, who will be looking to put herself on the Irish Oaks scene.

Eternal Joy has been one of the more enigmatic performers in the O'Brien stable. Prior to the start of the season, it was said that this was much above the normal maiden and yet three races down the road, it has only place money to show.

He has been a friend to the bookmakers, but today the tables could be turned, with him taking the Paddy Power Bookmakers Maiden.

Christy Roche could have a share in two other winners here. He rides yet another well-bred Mrs John Magnier two-year-old Impressionist (3.00), while putting on his trainer's hat Bicycle Thief must go well in the Heinkenen Handicap over a mile.

An interesting rival for Bicycle Thief is Vivo. The last word about him was that he had gone to Hong Kong but he is now back with John Oxx, for whom he was a double juvenile winner at Gowran and Galway. Vivo will meet one rival from that time, namely Rithab, who beat him a short-head on his Curragh debut.