4 days ago
Townend set to keep up strike rate
Limerick and Fairyhouse previews
Champion-jockey Paul Townend might strike on his only ride in Limerick, the Willie Mullins-trained Keep Up, in the RAYN Safety & Security Mares Maiden Hurdle.
This daughter of Storm The Stares has raced only twice, but impressed when turning over odds-on favourite and subsequent winner Jerry From Kerry on her debut at Roscommon last August, forging clear in the closing stages to triumph by five and a half lengths.
That performance earned Keep Up a crack at the listed 'Mucklemeg' at Gowran Park in October, always a competitive end-of-summer contest.
And, although she failed to make an impression, she fared better than better-fancied stable-companion Carmeletta Vega in filling fifth spot behind Aruntothequeen and Mozzies Sister (a subsequent hurdle winer and placed in Grade 1 company).
The strength of that form is reflected in the fact that Keep Up, twenty-three lengths clear of the sixth, finished just three-quarters of a length behind Paddy Twomey's Seo Linn, who has progressed to win a listed mares event in Cheltenham and. Grade 2 in Aintree.
Sure to be well-schooled for her hurdling bow, Keep Up should prove too strong for the consistent, Gordon Elliott-trained Emily Love.
Later, Kiln Time, in the familiar Bowe colours, should be noted in the Franke Dunworth Handicap Hurdle.
A winner, off 81, at Naas three runs back, he has since finished third to Wyoming Baby in Cork and, last time, filled fourth spot in a handicap chase won by Riggs in Wexford.
Back over hurdles here, with Cian Quirke again in the plate, Kiln Tim should reward each-way support.
We also have flat action in Fairyhouse where the Ger Lyons-trained Juddmonte filly Sapphire Princess will be expected to open her account, at the third attempt, in the End Of School Year Maiden.
This Kingman filly was made odds on for her debut in a seven-furlong Cork maiden but failed to cope with Dermot Weld's Bella Isabella.
Dropped back in trip, she sought compensation on the same track three weeks ago but came up short, finishing third, beaten six lengths, behind City Of Memphis and Bonus Time.
At the weekend, Bonus Tiem landed a six-furlong Curragh maiden while City Of Memphis, supplemented to the race, finished a creditable fifth to Laske Victoria in the Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas.
On that basis, Sapphire Princess should take plenty of beating here, with Sun Soldier the most likely threat.
