RUBY WALSH has been one of the riding finds of the season, and with 34 winners so far, he has a vice-like grip on the amateur riders' title. Just to emphasise that hold, however, the 18 year old Leaving Cert student can win this evening's Ballinrobe bumper on Carjune.
This five-year-old looked an assured future winner on his debut at Gowran at the start of the month when running on strongly to finish third to As Royal and Eduardo. On the strength of that, he started second favourite on his subsequent appearance at Cork but could only manage fourth to Couldn't Say.
Carjune had to be switched at an important stage of that race, though, and in tonight's company looks well worth another chance. Digital Signal could be the danger.
The current flat champion jockey, Johnny Murtagh, can also be on the mark with a horse who ran at Cork last time. Hayward's effort to finish third to Mingling Glances looks particularly commendable considering the winner's connections are talking of going for Royal Ascot's Coronation Stakes with their filly next.
Hayward doesn't have such expectations around her neck, but she ran on encouragingly in the closing stages in Cork and the extra furlong of the Carneys Bar Maiden should suit.
Murtagh's effort to close the gap on the present tearaway leader in the jockeys' championship, Christy Roche, may be foiled, however, as Roche can take advantage of the latest in the Aidan O'Brien juvenile production line in the Mayo Maiden.
Boat Strand is the representative, and with those who have already run looking extremely moderate, the selection is almost automatic.
There is a 45 minute gap between the 7.15 race and the Harp Lager Handicap Chase due to a draw for the Ballinrobe Racecourse Development Club for a colt named Sacrementum. The wait should be worthwhile for punters if Killerk Lady enjoys her fair share of luck.
Barry Geraghty's mount was leading at Dundalk last Friday when clipping the heels of a loose horse and coming to grief in the race eventually won by Young Dubliner. If no such bizarre incidents happen again, Killerk Lady can get the better of Rates Relief.
Miss Toffee Nose can justify an amount of confidence in her in the Lough Carra Maiden Hurdle, while Lisieux Lilly is marginally preferred in the Goat Tavern Handicap.
. Casey Tibbs will today be supplemented for the Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly on Sunday. Dermot Weld confirmed the plan last night and said: "We're going for where we think he has the best chance. It will be a hard race but he is working well."
