RACING NEWS ROUND-UP:IT MAY not be a career-defining moment like New Approach's Derby victory but the Jim Bolger-Kevin Manning team can still pick up this weekend's feature courtesy of Teacht An Earraig at Cork tomorrow.
A total of 10 fillies line up for the Group Three Kerry Group Noblesse Stakes and the combination of fast ground and a mile and a half looks ideal for Teacht An Earraig.
The easy winner of a mile and a half handicap at the Curragh, she followed up over 10 furlongs at Leopardstown but a combination of that distance and a mediocre pace looked against her when upped to Listed level at the Curragh in the Silver Stakes won by Hindu Kush.
Bolger wastes no time hiking his Galileo filly back up to a mile and a half tomorrow and Teacht An Earraig should relish competing solely against her own sex.
They are all home based including Dermot Weld's Profound Beauty who would probably prefer softer conditions while John Oxx's Simawa is something of a dark horse not having run since April.
The trip is an unknown factor for Beach Bunny who beat Charlotte Bronte at Gowran over an extended mile on her previous start so Teacht An Earraig's proven stamina could be crucial.
Cork's other black type race is the Listed Kerry Spring Water Rochestown Stakes where Curragh trainer Jim Gorman significantly gives Three Way Stretch an early chance to follow up an impressive Leopardstown maiden victory.
Three Way Stretchwas nominated as a likely starter in the Goffs Million in the Autumn after his three-and-a-half length maiden success but Gorman has always had a high opinion of the colt and gives him a quick opportunity of securing some black type.
Sky Mystic is the Bolger newcomer in this while the Mark Wallace's cross-channel raider Spring Tale secured his Newcastle win on much softer ground.
The Bolger-Manning team could have better fortune in the mile maiden where Ard Fheis, a half sister to Soldier Of Fortune, can notch a valuable winning bracket if repeating her Curragh form behind Tiffany Diamond last month.
A lot of money was lost on the gambled on Napa Starr at Listowel but the ex-French runner can gain compensation in the seven-furlong handicap.
Napa Starrwas a three-time winner on the all-weather in France, including twice at Deauville last winter, and he was well backed on his second start for Charles Byrnes only to ruin his chance by running too keenly in the early stages.
Nevertheless he was only beaten a short head by Murrisk while giving the impression that a drop in distance would be no problem. He's also still below the handicap mark he ran off on his first Irish start and the star apprentice Danny Mullins is a significant jockey booking.
What's Up Pussycatfound Lover's Quest too good at Navan but the filly from David Wachman's in-form yard can make it third time lucky in the opening auction maiden.
