Mazarine taken to open account

RETURNING to action after a lengthy absence at Leopardstown recently, Mazanne led until the straight in the race won by her stable…

RETURNING to action after a lengthy absence at Leopardstown recently, Mazanne led until the straight in the race won by her stable, companion, Caudillo. She will not have to improve significantly on that performance to have the winning of the September Maiden at Sligo this afternoon.

Both of Mazarine's early season runs revealed a reasonable degree of promise, with the Maelstrom, Lake filly finishing in the leading group in maidens at Leopardstown at the Curragh. Also in her favour is that she showed that she can handle soft ground when fifth to 17 to Courier Leopardstown back in March, and she is a confident choice to beat Archway Belle and Ashiions.

Scottish Mist ran like the complete outsider she was in the Heinz 57 Phoenix Stakes, trailing in over 20 lengths behind the winner in last place. The Tattersalls Race, which is confined to horse purchased for 12,000 guineas or less, is a much less taxing assignment and she should up to this challenge.

Scottish Mist's trainer Ger Lyons is represented by Difficult Times in the Strandhill Handicap Hurdle and this tough four-year-old faces a stiff task in conceding weight to older rivals. However, he won with considerable ease at Roscommon and this son of Ela-Mana-Mou is taken to outstay Slave Gale.

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Evriza, having run Rhum Dancer to a head in the season's first juvenile hurdle at Roscommon, could not repeat the performance in the rematch at Tralee last week, with the winning margin now extended to nine lengths. Possibly Evriza did not relish the soft ground she encountered at the Kerry venue and it may be worth opposing her in the Yeats Maiden Hurdle. Dunemer has a considerable amount to find on Evriza on Roscommon running, she had useful Flat form earlier is a hopeful choice.