RACING: Danaskaya is expected to be confirmed a runner for the Moyglare Stud Stakes at this morning's declaration stage.
Runner-up to Russian Rhythm in the Lowther Stakes at York just eight days ago, Danaskaya will be one of the market principals in the Group One contest.
"Assuming everything is okay with her, the plan is to run. We think she is a very good filly and we would not do anything to harm her. But if Jim Bolger feels she has fully recovered, the intention is to run," said John O'Connor of Ballylinch Stud, who own Danaskaya, yesterday.
The ground at the Curragh for Sunday's big race remains good despite 3.6mms of rain falling on the track yesterday morning.
Meanwhile Bob What will today try to bridge a three-year gap in the Tralee Festival highlight, the Guinness Gold Cup.
The Paddy Mullins-trained horse is already a festival winner having emerged best from a short head verdict in a hurdle on Tuesday.
However, the greatest day of his career was in 1999 when he also came out best in a short head decision for the Guinness Gold Cup. The Killorglin-born apprentice Timmy Houlihan rode Bob What that day and is back aboard again.
John Oxx won the race with Deeply last year and the in form trainer is triple handed this time. Fran Berry is on the Royal Ascot-placed Ancestor who brings a 102 rating to the party, leaving the topweight Quest For A Star to Mick Kinane. Kenilworth completes the Oxx team.
Despite the presence of the GPT winner Quadco and the prolific Carlesimo, that team look the major threat to Bob What.
The John Oxx-trained Kossu can make it fourth time lucky in the opener on the back of a decent second to Dolmur last time out at Gowran. Oxx's Afreen, fourth to stable companion Kossna last time, looks the one in the 11 furlong maiden and Mount Kimble should get his head in front in the bumper.
Noel Meade's absence from the racecourse in recent weeks has proved a lucky omen, and yesterday at Tralee proved no different when Fnan landed the featured Denny Gold Medal Handicap Chase.
"That's the 12th winner in a row that Noel has missed," said his partner Gillian O'Brien after the 2 to 1 favourite beat the Jimmy Mangan-trained pair Glacial Sygnet and Monty's Pass by three lengths and nine lengths.
"Noel has been kept very busy lately, and I think he believes it may be a jinx to come racing now. Fnan will probably go for the Kerry National providing the ground is good," added O'Brien.
Carberry was completing a double having earlier partnered Berkeley Bay to justify odds-on support in the Tom McGiff Plumbing Maiden Hurdle. The front-running mare stayed on well to beat Fast And Furious by six lengths.
"That's the first time she has worn blinkers over hurdles, and it helped to keep her focused," said winning trainer Michael Halford.
