Sport

Slayjay is due change of luck

BANK holidays in England are made all the more hearable by coverage of racing on television by either BBC or Channel 4

By JOHN KELLY
Mon Aug 05 1996 - 01:00

BANK holidays in England are made all the more hearable by coverage of racing on television by either BBC or Channel 4. It's a pity that their cousin in Donnybrook doesn't follow suit as this afternoon's racing at Leopardstown (lust up the road from the studios) has thrown up a very competitive card of seven races which would make far more appeal than a re-run of Dallas or Emmerdale.

The feature race, the Joe McGrath Handicap, is a trappy-looking affair and is not helped by dual representation by three trainers, Jim Bolger (Ailleacht, Don't Care), Kevin Prendergast (Diligent Dodger, Rithab) and Aidan O'Brien (Cuddles, Best Before Dawn).

However, Slayjay, trained in Kilcullen by John Hayden, is taken to come out on top. And he certainly deserves to get his head in front after a couple of excellent runs in the Scurry Handicap (third behind Sunset Reigns) at the Curragh and the Rockingham Handicap (beaten three-parts of a length by Catch The Blues) at the same venue.

In the latter event, the Mujtahid filly had Don't Care (now 2lb worse off) two lengths back in third, with Diligent Dodger (fifth), Best Before Dawn (sixth), Cuddles (seventh) and Ailleacht (eighth and last) in arrears. Slayjay is entitled to confirm that form this afternoon.

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Sheffield was sent off favourite for last Tuesday's McDonogh Handicap at Galway but she sweated up badly before the start before finishing last of the 17 runners. The daughter of Dayjur was found to be in respiratory distress but she lines up for today's Brownstown Stud Stakes and is obviously none the worse for her exertions. She may be worth taking a chance with.

Before that Sheffield went down by only half a length to Predappio at Gowran, form which looked a bit exceptional when the winner finished second to Idris at the Curragh. Prior to that Jim Bolger's charge had beaten Requin Bleu and Pro Trader (who went on to win the McDonogh Handicap).

Walter Swinburn was yesterday uncertain whether he will be making a quick return to action on the first day he is eligible at Leopardstown next Sunday. The jockey has recently been given the all-clear to resume riding from next Sunday six months after an horrific fall in Hong Kong. But Swinburn said: "I don't know whether I will be riding at Leopardstown."