Dermot Weld and Michael Kinane will team up with either Screen Idol or Cultural Role in Sunday's Moyglare Stud Stakes, and although this afternoon's Knockbridge Handicap at Dundalk may be small beer in comparison, it should prove the Curragh team with some encouragement in the shape of Key To The City. This is Key To The City's sixth race this season and also his best-looking opportunity for a win. The Shalford gelding's first four runs were over the sprint distances of five and six furlongs where he cut little ice, but it was a different story at Tralee last Wednesday.
There, over a mile, Key To The City ran on like a trooper on heavy ground to fail by just a neck to New Legislation. Key To The City was hardly suited, no more than most other horses, by the surface at Tralee and it should be more suitable for him today. Kinane and Weld are also represented in the Riverstown Maiden by Faux Pas, but it speaks volumes for the quality of this race, or more precisely the lack of it, that Faux Pas comes into the reckoning. In the circumstances, John Oxx's record at this track with newcomers becomes more attractive and the Darshaan horse, Bakkar, would not have to be exceptional to win this.
The eternal nearly horse Graphic Image goes again, this time in the Rossbracken Handicap Chase, and this could be the time when Jessica Harrington's charge finally gets his head in front.
Ridden today by Ray Hogan, Graphic Image, placed on his last six efforts, is 4lb better off for the half a length he was beaten by Have A Brandy at Tramore last month, and although stepping back in distance, the weight concession may be enough to finally swing the initiative in Graphic Image's favour.
Total Success is another animal that has been expensive to follow but, unfortunately for Ted Walsh, that comment may still be applicable after the opening Carnlough Maiden Hurdle. Victor Bowens runs two in this, but preference is for Ballymore Thatch.
As befits a claimer, the Mullacrew Race is hardly an earth-shattering event on form, but possibly Declan Gillespie's Always True may have come on enough from her debut, when quite a decent seventh to Saratoga Springs at Gowran in July, to possibly get the better of Casati.
Ballylennon Bavard raced prominently for much of the trip until fading to seventh behind Timeless River at Roscommon, and although on the formbook Archdall Lady has the beating of him if ridden with slightly more restraint, Ballylennon Bavard can score for Philip Dempsey.
