The British champion jockey-elect Jamie Spencer teams up with Dermot Weld at the Curragh tomorrow where Reform Act will be fancied to go close in the feature event.
An all National-Hunt schedule across channel allows Spencer to return home and step in for Weld's stable jockey Pat Smullen, who is in Toronto for tonight's Canadian International at Woodbine.
Reform Act's maiden success at Navan gives her a clear chance in the Gerrardstown Stud Silken Glider Stakes as the Aidan O'Brien contender Fermion was over a length and a half back in third on that occasion. Very soft ground could change things but significantly Reform Act did act well on a soft surface on her debut and may be worth persevering with.
Soft conditions certainly won't be a problem to Eklim who Spencer teams up with in the concluding conditions race. A couple of recent runs should see the former McDonogh winner spot on for this.
Baggio is 9lb higher in the ratings for his impressive win over five furlongs here a month ago but that doesn't look enough to curb his chance in the €65,000 Premier Handicap especially since the extra furlong should be ideal.
The best bet at headquarters, however, could come in the expensive form of Carpocrates in the seven-furlong juvenile maiden. Since he is by Storm Cat out of a Breeders' Cup Distaff winner, it was hardly surprising that Michael Tabor had to splash out $2.4 million to secure this colt and there was enough in his debut to suggest Carpocrates should at least be up to winning a race like this.
Clonmel's feature tomorrow is the Captain Christy Novice Chase which should be a less taxing task for Piercing Sun than the Kerry National last month. A significant weight concession from Church Island may prove crucial. Bonne Noel's was an impressive bumper winner at Listowel and inexperience may not be a bar to Christy Roche's horse coming out on top in the novice hurdle.
