Irish previews It is a big day in Dundalk Stadium, where an eight-race horse racing programme tees up a greyhound card which includes one of the year’s highlights, the Bar One Irish Sprint Cup final. On the equine front, the Johnny Murtagh-trained Tangapour can build upon a promising start by taking the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden. The Wootton Bassett colt made his debut last month at Leopardstown and was noted making good late progress into fifth place behind Green Impact.
The form received its first test just last weekend when runner-up Delacroix contested a Curragh maiden and he duly obliged. That victory was a nice boost to what already looked like a good maiden, as the winner, Green Impact, had been a shade unlucky on debut when beaten just a neck in a maiden from which he and three other runners won their maiden next time out. For a nice bit of symmetry, the selection takes on Bernard Shaw, who finished fourth in that maiden in which Green Impact was runner-up.
Both he and the selection are likely to step forward significantly and there shouldn’t be much between them, but Tangapour looks stronger at this trip and can come out on top. One of the more interesting runners on the card is the John Murphy-trained Convincing, who contests the Bar One Racing Price Boosts All Channels Apprentice Maiden. The three-year-old made his track debut last month at Killarney and came in for plenty of support.
He travelled like the best horse, looked likely to win early in the straight, but appeared to run out of steam close home. Quite why that happened is difficult to ascertain, but there was certainly talent on show and the drop back from a mile to seven furlongs looks likely to suit. If he steps forward from his debut, he will go close.
Cuban Confusion has the ability to win a race but is a keen-going sort, while Settlement has become frustrating to follow and, on balance, is opposable. Tramore’s four-day August festival gets underway, and Clifftop can get off the mark over fences by taking the O’Neill’s Bar Beginners’ Chase. Trained by Harry Rogers, whose team is in fine form, the eight-year-old has run four times over fences and finished fourth once, third once, and runner-up on two occasions.
Most recently, he was picked off close home by the useful Jazzy Matty, and that form stands up well against those he faces this time. A decent jumper who is sure to run his race, he is preferred to chasing debutant Moon Rise Beauty. DUNDALK Tommy Lyons 1:40 Dazzling Angel 2:15 Final Voyage 2:50 Convincing 3:25 Tangapour (nb) 4:00 Barley Cove 4:35 Stop On Red 5:10 Slieve Binnian 5:40 Chopsticks Next best 1:40 Actin Like A Diva 2:15 Little Queenie 2:50 Cuban Confusion 3:25 Queen’s Fury 4:00 Blue Wood 4:35 Rock Etoile 5:10 Ridhaz 5:40 Designer Cailin TRAMORE Tommy Lyons 5:20 Still Ciel 5:50 Clifftop (nap) 6:20 Hasten Slowly 6:50 Rauzan 7:20 Rosalys 7:50 Fire Coral 8:20 Familiar Dreams Next best 5:20 Faux Fur 5:50 Moon Rise Beauty 6:20 Dumb Love 6:50 Miss Fourie 7:20 Jumping Susie 7:50 Beechroad Winnie 8:20 Winter Fog.
