Pink Coral is napped

Pink Coral can get the backers off to a good start at a marathon eight-race Gowran meeting this afternoon

Pink Coral can get the backers off to a good start at a marathon eight-race Gowran meeting this afternoon. The mile fillies maiden constitutes a big drop in class, for on her two runs to date Pink Coral has had a back view of the impressive Edabiya.

Both made their debuts in a listed race at Leopardstown, and while Edabiya confirmed her home promise by winning, Pink Coral ran on noticeably well as a stable second string to take third.

The Group One Moyglare saw Edabiya increase her superiority, but today's race is a totally different kettle of fish and, with the experience under her belt, the Sadler's Wells filly should start to come into her own over this mile trip. Dermot Weld's newcomer Touch Of Truth, a filly by Storm Cat, looks the main danger to Pink Coral.

An interesting runner in the £15,000 Cordell Lavarack Memorial Race is Sweet Dreams, who travels from John Dunlop's Arundel yard. The winner of a Nottingham handicap on her first run this year, Sweet Dreams is rated on 78 after subsequently running a second at Chepstow, but her chance looks remote in this company, especially against Jim Bolger's Darina.

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The daughter of Danehill ran a fine race to be runner-up to Tadwiga in the Group Three Matron Stakes at the Curragh, and if she runs up to her rating of 101, she can halt her run of three seconds with a decisive win.

Bolger and jockey Kevin Manning could also be on the mark in the nursery, where The Bomber Liston has to shoulder top-weight.

Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor

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