Racing News round-upPierce Molony will serve a second two-year term as senior steward of the Turf Club owing to the appointment of Frank Clarke as a judge of the High Court.
Clarke, who has served as deputy senior steward, had been due to take over from Molony on December 18th of this year but his new position has resulted in a change of plan.
Molony will now stay on as senior steward and will also remain as chairman of the Curragh Development Board. He originally became senior steward in December of 2003. A new deputy senior steward will now have to be elected.
Kieren Fallon has been making hay at Newmarket this week and despite trailing Fran Berry by 13 winners he remains favourite to be crowned Irish champion jockey this year.
A six-time title holder in Britain, Fallon is a 6 to 4 market leader with Paddy Power despite having already stated he thinks a first Irish championship is beyond him this year.
Fallon has ridden 29 winners in Ireland. Berry is on 43 but is currently in the middle of a nine-day suspension for careless riding.
Pat Smullen was on 37 going into last night while Michael Kinane is on the 32-winner mark.
"Fallon started the season a lot shorter because of the way the Ballydoyle jockeys have done so well for the last few years," a Power spokesman said yesterday. "But the two-year-old fire-power doesn't seem to be in Ballydoyle this year and the interest has been in Berry and Smullen as bigger prices.
"You never know what might happen. Smullen might have a very good Galway and become favourite."
Whatever about Galway, Michael Kinane can make some inroads of his own into Berry's lead at Cork this evening.
The 12-times champion is on Who Could Tell for John Oxx in the mile maiden and there might be more improvement to come from her Limerick debut than there is in the Dermot Weld runner Jubilant Note.
Kinane is also on Sweet Afton in the sprint maiden and this one's second to Modeeroch at Naas gives her a big shout.
Tofana is 14lb higher than when winning at the Curragh over the Derby weekend and that might stop the filly's hat-trick attempt in the six-furlong handicap.
Mainly Mine is also higher for winning at Leopardstown last time but the Collins runner comes into his own at this time of year.
Ruby Walsh rides Hard To Credit in the mares maiden hurdle at Wexford and this one had a hard task at Ballinrobe last time behind Euro Flyer.
Barrack Buster has been chasing recently but the smart mare looks to have a good shout off a low weight in the two-mile handicap. Kevin Manning also looks a significant jockey booking.
