The top class novice hurdler, French Ballerina, can show her durability as well as talent by winning this evening's listed Saval Beg Stakes at Leopardstown for the second year running.
Durability because French Ballerina had an exceptionally gruelling race last time out at Punchestown. The Sadler's Wells mare may have comprehensively beaten His Song at Cheltenham, but on exceptionally bad ground the gulf between her speed and his stamina narrowed dramatically.
His Song just got the better of French Ballerina in a titanic finish but Pat Flynn's mare actually got her head back in front briefly on the run-in after looking completely outpointed before the turnin.
She had shown the talent that makes her a Champion Hurdle prospect when landing the Supreme Novices' Hurdle and tonight's race could be a prelude to a summer campaign in the major staying flat races.
Last year French Ballerina won the Saval Beg by eight lengths from Damancher but this time it looks a slightly stronger event.
The top weight Gordi is a formidable stayer at his best, while Michael Grassick's Blue Saddle ran a fine race when runner-up to Archive Footage last time. Nevertheless, if fully recovered from Punchestown, French Ballerina can win this again. Michael Kinane has made a fine start to the season but even with 15 winners he still remains five behind the pacesetter John Murtagh. The gap, however, should be narrowed by the end of this evening.
The former champion jockey can take the opening two races for Dermot Weld. Floating Agenda was fancied to make a winning debut at Navan last Wednesday over five furlongs but could only finish fourth to My Chief. Still, she wasn't beaten that far, will improve for the run and will relish the extra furlong of the Roundwood Maiden. Aidan O'Brien's Dolphin Street filly, Tortoiseshell, is the most likely danger.
Kinane's mount in the May Handicap, Lady Shannon, has to carry 10st but over five furlongs weight is not as big an issue as it normally would be. Lady Shannon certainly ran well enough here a week and a half ago when second to Strike Hard. That one is regarded as a Group filly and she certainly ran like one. There shouldn't be any other such handicap good thing lurking amongst the opposition this time, and Lady Shannon is selected to beat the bottom weight, Magic Annemarie.
Kinane must also have a reasonable chance of landing the Foxrock Maiden with David Hanley's Madam Lightfoot. This filly was noted running on well in the closing stages behind Razik and Nicola Bella at Fairyhouse on her debut and normal improvement would put her into this race with a good chance. The booking of Kinane is hardly a disadvantage either.
Another significant jockey booking is Ruby Walsh for Lismeenan, fifth to Look West in a nine-furlong maiden at Fairyhouse, in the bumper; while Sarpadar can improve enough from a third at Naas on Sunday to take the Sandyford Handicap.
