Pearl set for Oaks

Mother Of Pearl is expected to get the green light this morning to run in Sunday's Kildangan Stud Irish Oaks at the Curragh.

Mother Of Pearl is expected to get the green light this morning to run in Sunday's Kildangan Stud Irish Oaks at the Curragh.

Trainer Peter ChappleHyam had been putting a decision on hold for the Musidora Stakes runner-up but a spokesperson at Manton said yesterday: "It's looking very likely that she will run."

The spokesperson added: "Pete will make a final decision in the morning. We would like a little bit of rain for her but she doesn't look like she is going to get it. However she should be able to go on any ground. Jimmy Fortune will ride."

Mother Of Pearl, who finished fifth in the Prix Saint-Alary in her last race, is being generally quoted at 12 to 1 behind the heavy odds on favourite Ramruma.

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Tonight's action is at Wexford, which stages a seven-race card and David Casey could be a rider to follow with two winning opportunities looking to be in his grasp.

The first one looks to be in the opener, the mares Maiden Hurdle, where Casey gets the ride on Perfect Peace. Third on her last two starts at Clonmel and Tralee, where she was behind Cloda's Minstrel, Perfect Peace is preferred to Lady Margaretta who ran behind Nippy Cherry at Kilbeggan.

An hour and a half later, Casey's mount in the novices chase, Sparkey Smith, has to give weight away but there was enough in this horse's easy six-length defeat of Forli Des Oremeaux at Ballinrobe to indicate he is going the right way.

The three-quarter length runner-up to Greenhue at Kilbeggan, Noel Meade's Luna Fleur looks the main danger to the nap.

Luna Fleur's rider Barry Geraghty can gain compensation in the conditions hurdle with Lord Strickland, who can beat the other Kilbeggan winner in the field, Nippy Cherry, while the Tralee fourth Dollys First is the selection in the bumper.

Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor

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