The Listed Retza & Soudavar Garnet Stakes may be the most valuable event at Naas tomorrow but this is always known as Birdcatcher day and the latest name on the role of honour can be one that hasn't featured since 1971.
The Derrinstown-sponsored Nursery has an Arc winner in Star Appeal on its winning list but the year before that champion won, Paddy Prendergast sent out Karell to score at 10 to 1. In Maura's Choice, Prendergast looks to have a potential winner at a similar kind of price.
Runner-up to Beaver Lodge at Listowel last time, Maura's Choice had previously looked a slightly unlucky loser behind two of today's opponents, Romanylei and Indian Desert, at Cork and now gets a significant weight swing.
Prendergast had a juvenile winner with Topsy Morning during the week; he has booked the good 7lb claimer Wayne Lordand for the ride and off a low weight and Maura's Choice looks a reasonable each-way bet.
With Michael Kinane at Longchamp to ride Ciro in the Grand Criterium, Aidan O'Brien has had to juggle his riding arrangements at home and Paul Scallan has come in for what should be a winning spin on Crystal Downs in the mile Listed race.
This filly doesn't win often but some of her placed efforts are excellent and she relishes a dig in the going. That should give Crystal Downs the edge and O'Brien can also take the opener with the Seamus Heffernan-ridden Van Dantzig who is surely better than his last effort might suggest. The following fillies maiden is an intriguing little contest with the Birdcatcher topweight Berenica featuring in the lines of form involving Regal Ash and Storm Dream. There is also the Curragh form of Alluring and Aretha to consider but there was a lot to like about Tarwila's debut behind Tender Offer at the Curragh and the form of that race was boosted by Determination during the week.
Monday's scheduled meeting for Roscommon has been abandoned. An inspection yesterday morning found that the track was unraceable due to recent bad weather in the area.
