NEWS ROUND-UP
RUBY WALSH can be a leading player at Ballinrobe this evening where the former champion jockey looks to have a good prospects of a double kick-started by Sicilian Secret.
The Willie Mullins-trained horse took a long time to get off the mark over jumps but when he got quick ground for the first time at Fairyhouse last month Sicilian Secret won a maiden in some style.
He had one of tonight’s novice hurdle opponents, Ross Na Righ, behind him then and it could be worth forgiving Sicilian Secret a subsequent defeat at Punchestown when the going was softer.
Walsh had a comfortable success on Tony Martin’s Somatic at Limerick recently and a 10lb penalty for that six-length victory doesn’t look enough to stop him in the two and a half mile handicap hurdle. Kerb Appeal is Walsh’s mount in the Beginners Chase but the two mile plus trip looks short of this one’s best and Alpine Eagle has the benefit of a debut run over fences at Killarney.
Joseph O’Brien will have his first Epsom Derby ride this Saturday on the outsider Memphis Tennessee but on the home front the 18-year-old champion apprentice has lodged an appeal to the Turf Club’s Referrals Committee against a two-day ban he picked up at Navan on Saturday.
O’Brien was suspended for careless riding after riding Flavia Tatiana into third place in a 10-furlong handicap behind Buccaneer Bob. Flavia Tatiana was involved in an incident with the favourite Late Debate (fourth) over a furlong out.
Aidan O’Brien’s son secured a first classic victory on board Roderic O’Connor in the Irish 2,000 Guineas 10 days ago. O’Brien Jnr has been confirmed the rider of Memphis Tennessee, runner-up to his stable companion Recital in the Derrinstown Derby Trial at Leopardstown, for his father this weekend.
Behkabad is on course to make his seasonal reappearance in the Grand Prix de Chantilly on Sunday. Jean-Claude Rouget’s colt enjoyed an excellent campaign during 2010, winning the Grand Prix de Paris and the Prix Niel before placing a slightly unlucky fourth when sent off favourite for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. He then rounded off the year with a creditable third in the Breeders’ Cup Turf. Georges Rimaud, racing manager to owner the Aga Khan, confirmed: He’s in great form at the moment. I saw him work the other day and he is very, very well.”
Declan McNamara is still weighing up whether to give stable star Mossey Joe another run this summer. The eight-year-old made it three wins from as many starts over fences at Cork on Friday, winning as he liked in the hands of Barry Geraghty. McNamara hopes his charge will be up to competing at the top level in novice company when the next National Hunt season starts proper. “We haven’t made any decision on what we’re going to do yet. We’re just waiting to see how he comes out of his last race,” said McNamara.
