First Time looks best

It is not the £775,000 Derby in front of 30,000 people but tonight's £4,000 Beltra Race at Sligo has to have a winner just the…

It is not the £775,000 Derby in front of 30,000 people but tonight's £4,000 Beltra Race at Sligo has to have a winner just the same and First Time Round looks to be the answer.

The Vivian Kennedy trained filly was to have her own Curragh experience on Saturday but was declared in error for the race won by The Third Curate.

On the strength of her third to Miracle Ridge and Sally Pledge at Navan, First Time Round looked to have a decent chance in that competitive contest and although the likes of the Ballinrobe winner Magical Peace and Paris Style represent real opposition, First Time Round can score.

This evening's meet has seven races following the division of the maiden hurdle and the answers to the divides could be Applause, in the first and the Dundalk fifth Minister's Cross in the second.

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Patrick O'Leary's Dockside ran green on her debut behind Barrier Reef at Navan but was ultimately a decent fourth. Social Contract, third to Bernstein at the Curragh and to King Of Russia at Cork, represents a real danger.

Philip Fenton can double up with Brassis Well in the bumper and Tony Martin's Inny Lady, third to Kilfane and the subsequent winner Kayaliyna at Wexford, looks worth a speculative punt in the third race.

Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor is the racing correspondent of The Irish Times. He also writes the Tipping Point column