Alpha can capture opening day glory at Killarney
Alpha Capture has a style of running which always demands a little luck in running and while the Willie Mullins-trained five-year-old is running at a track with similar demands, he makes plenty of appeal in the TXODDS Handicap, the fourth race on the opening day of Killarney's five-day July festival.
An ex-Willie Haggas-trained gelding, he made a promising start for Mullins, winning once for new connections, at this venue, from just four outings, and being a shade unlucky on another.
Early last month, he made his first start in ten 10 months and once again he could be counted as unlucky as he ran into a cul-de-sac before getting out and flying home to finish a close second to Tachos.
That run ought to have brought him forward quite a bit and, given his style of running, with no great concern about the high draw, he can take this en route to a likely run or two at Galway's summer festival.
In recent seasons, we've come to expect the quality of the juvenile maidens at this track to be very high and the festival opener, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden, looks certain to live up to expectation. Aidan O'Brien's Benevuto Cellini has got to be the pick, though Ipanema Beach has decent form in the book and there are also some interesting newcomers in the field.
The selection was quite well touted prior to his debut and while he gave best to another well-regarded stablemate, Dorset, it could be argued he emerged as the brightest prospect in the race. Prominent from quite an early stage, he was the only one to make a race of it with the winner, who had the benefit of previous experience.
With the experience and the benefit of a decent draw, he should be in the van from the outset and can see off his seven rivals.
Debutants Bond, Limestone, Hardy Warrior and his own stablemate, Endorsement, are worth noting in the betting, but Ipanema Beach has run to a good level on all three starts and ought to present the greatest danger.
Joseph O'Brien's Defiantly ran a race full of promise when a fast-finishing third to two experienced sorts and he can build on that with victory in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden, Sigliosa and Edge Of Seventeen can fill the frame.
Defiantly's stablemate, Beautiful Affair, was unlucky in running last time out, at Tipperary, can make amends in the SIS Supporting Irish Racing Handicap.
Downpatrick hosts the first of two days of action, and Willie Mullins can take the second race with Full Confession, while Edward O'Grady's Betty Dutton can earn reward for her consistency by taking the C. Russell Auto Sales Beginners' Chase.
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