Top Australian rider Damien Oliver samples his third Irish racecourse when he travels to Wexford this evening for two rides. Successful on Noel Meade's newcomer Simplicity at Fairyhouse on Wednesday evening, following two unsuccessful rides at the Curragh, Oliver rides another three-year-old debutante for Meade in the 13 furlong maiden.
Oliver is on the Anshan colt Billy Bonnie, and in truth Billy Bonnie wouldn't have to be great to beat this field. A safer bet, however, looks to be Rose Quartz, a Lammtara filly that ran a good race on her debut behind Grand Finale at Gowran.
Oliver teams up with another champion jockey in Charlie Swan for the ride on the appropriately named Aboriginal in the two mile handicap, and at his best Aboriginal stands a chance.
Again, however, there look to be safer options, and one of them could the lightweight Biddy Blackhurst, a course winner in 1998 who ran a decent third to She's Wonderful at Clonmel and who looks capable of being suited by the hike up to two miles.
Swan, however, looks to provide the bet of the day, and it's on the flat also in Dundalk's nine furlong maiden.
Sharavogue Cookie might not like the ground to get very soft, but she ran a blinding second to Awesome Strike at Clonmel on her first start of the year and Dermot Weld is aiming the winner at Listed races next.
The form of the race has also got a boost from the fourth home, Sunny Slope, who won at Fairyhouse on Wednesday night. All told, the Clonmel race looks stronger than the Fairyhouse event won by Wimbledon in which tonight's opponents, Atacat and Zaola, finished second and third.
Another reasonable looking bet at Dundalk looks to be John Bowles' Drewstown Lady, who won over the course and distance last time out.
Drewstown Lady had beaten Royal Jake a length at Punchestown before that and looks well up to completing the three-timer in the handicap hurdle.
Back at Wexford, Moll Kettle's second to the smart Ardkilly Eclipse at Cork should make her hard to beat in the bumper, while in the opener Challenger Two is selected to break his duck over flights.
