24-04-2025
Sup Of Red can take next step in Tipperary
Two meetings take place this evening, with Tipperary firing its opening salvo for the Flat season, and Kilbeggan doing likewise for its summer season of National Hunt racing.
Two-year-old Sup Of Red made a most promising start to her career when runner-up in a fillies' maiden in Cork and she can go one place better in the Irish EBF Median Sires Maiden.
Jack Davison's filly attracted heavy support on that occasion, but she was a shade slow from stalls and consequently found herself caught behind in a bit of a pocket at a crucial juncture.
The winner, Baby Basma, was also well fancied on the day and got first run. Whether that was the difference between winning and losing is impossible to ascertain, but there was much to like about the way the runner-up moved away from the remainder of the field as she went in vain chase of the leader.
She ought to be better for that experience and, although she is taking on colts and filles this time, she should be a tough nut to crack.
Noodles and Arugam Bay, who finished third and fifth respectively in a maiden won by Miami Destination, showed equal promise and command respect.
Unless Ger Lyons' newcomer, Lil' Angel, is nicely above average, the Jessica Harrington-trained Passing Phase should finally get off the mark in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden.
The Lope De Vega gelding posted his best effort of last season when touched off in a juvenile maiden at this venue, and the form of that race has worked out well, with winner Sir Yoshi climbing to a mark of 97, while third-placed Rudi's Apple fared better by earning a three-figure assessment.
Off for four months after that outing, Passing Phase finished a well-beaten second behind the smart Likedbymike on his only subsequent start at two. On return, at the Curragh, he made a big mid-race move to challenge winner Glen To Glen, but it cost him late as he lost second place to subsequent winner Mathan.
Back to five furlongs and with that run behind him, he looks ready to strike.
Lil' Angel's place in the market should be significant and if she is not particularly strong in the ring, Bobbi Rosa will be the one to give the selection most to think about.
In Kilbeggan, Midnight Fairy can put a first winning mark on her card by taking the first division of the Follow Kilbeggan On Instagram Handicap Hurdle. On the back of three modest efforts in maidens, the Terence O'Brien-trained mare made her handicap debut earlier this month in Limerick and found only Flemens Interest too good.
That was a significant step up on previous efforts and it looked even better when the winner followed up off a 10lbs higher mark.
A sister to a three-time winner, the lightly raced seven-year-old needs to make up for lost time, and this looks like a decent opportunity if she can build on the promise of that Limerick effort.
Tommy's picks
KILBEGGAN
4:05 Following Orders
4:40 Fair Damsel
5:15 Midnight Fairy
5:45 Massabielle
6:15 Glendower
6:45 Sip Sip Hooray
7:15 Riskaway
Next best
4:05 Half Past Tipsy
4:40 Baltinglass Hill
5:15 Chemdawg
5:45 Sharetheknowledge
6:15 One And Only
6:45 Apples Jane
7:15 Ifallgoeswell
TIPPERARY
3:52 Sup Of Red (nap)
4:25 Passing Phase (nb)
5:00 Widely Acclaimed
5:32 Kortez Bay
6:02 Letters Of Love
6:32 Treasure Planet
7:02 Cheeky Wink
Next best
3:52 Noodles
4:25 Lil' Angel
5:00 Steel Magnolia
5:32 Hurricane Ivor
6:02 Onemoredance
6:32 Keyboard
7:02 Robbies Rock
