Kastoria to continue late progress

The weekend's feature is the Listed Vintage Crop Stakes at Navan tomorrow where Kastoria can secure the second black type success…

The weekend's feature is the Listed Vintage Crop Stakes at Navan tomorrow where Kastoria can secure the second black type success of her career.

This late developing filly is a rare five-year-old runner from the John Oxx stable but progress last season no doubt encouraged the Aga Khan team to persevere on the racecourse for 2006.

Kastoria progressed from a Wexford maiden to winning the Galtres on fast ground at York in August and then ran a fine second on similar conditions to Sweet Stream at Doncaster.

She wound up by again finishing second to Oiseau Rare at Longchamp and it's her versatility on different ground conditions that could prove crucial against the Presidential runner Cairdeas and Valentina Guest.

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The opening six-furlong handicap includes a very different kettle of fish in the veteran runner Miracle Ridge who has the 98th start of his long career and can defy a 6lb penalty for winning at Cork last time.

Compared to his career high rating of 94, today's mark of 46 is very low but trainer Ado McGuinness has got Miracle Ridge back in sparkling form and a high draw shouldn't harm his chances.

Rockie is topweight in the second six-furlong handicap and while the trip is short of his ideal, he does have the advantage of being a winner on fast ground.

Noel Meade will have a serious interest in the opening mile maiden at Gowran where Rockall Blizzard will try and finally break his duck under jockey John Murtagh.

The colt looked to be set a tough task from the back of the field when fourth to Mon Michel over a mile and a quarter at Leopardstown last time but he can defy the Ballydoyle duo, Rol'over Beethoven and Brideshead.

Dermot Weld's Michikabu can win at the third time of asking in the fillies maiden, while the amateur champion Nina Carberry looks a significant booking for last summer's Ballinrobe winner Slick Vick in the bumper.

Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor is the racing correspondent of The Irish Times. He also writes the Tipping Point column