Aidan O’Brien has bigger fish to fry today but he can bag a winner on home-soil with Ephesus at Leopardstown on Thursday evening.
Hugh Horgan gets the call-up to ride for Ballydoyle with their usual jockeys in action at Royal Ascot.
This Galileo colt has been placed on both starts to date and should be able to make the breakthrough now in the mile-and-a-half maiden.
He was third at Dundalk on his debut in April before getting turned over at a short enough price when travelling to Chester for a maiden last month.
It was still a solid run there to chase home Mina Rashid and he probably doesn’t have to improve much to get his head in front now.
His maiden danger could well be stablemate Blackpool, another son of the legendary Galileo.
He was placed on his return this season, when third at Navan and is tried in blinkers now. That form doesn’t look quite as strong as Ephesus’ but he has to be respected.
Another horse with placed form who has to be on the shortlist is Jim Bolger’s charge Teofimo.
The Teofilo colt stepped forward nicely on his second run when losing out by just a head at Fairyhouse earlier this month.
It looks a competitive little heat but Ephesus should be up to winning a race of this standard.
In the opening auction series race Green Triangle can gain revenge on De Vero, having lost out to that rival on his debut at Roscommon last month.
The Gleneagles colt was still a touch green when losing out by half a length to the filly then, when giving her almost a stone.
He is half a stone better off at the weights this time and with a run under his belt he’s fancied to turn the tables now.
Willie Mullins looks to have a strong hand in the concluding amateur rider maiden and his son Patrick takes the mount on Williamstowndancer.
The Beat Hollow mare developed into a smart hurdler last season, with a Grade 3 win at Tipperary the highlight of her campaign.
She also had smart bumper form and switching back to the level shouldn’t be an issue for her.
Her stablemate Pink In The Park is only rated a few pounds inferior over hurdles and is another interesting one trying her hand under Flat rules now.
SELECTION NEXT BEST
4.45: Green Triangle (Dbl) Deo Vero
5.15: Oriental Dancer Eastern Wind
5.45: Expound Rio Largo
6.20: Sara Valentina Cill Mocheallog
6.50: Cleopatra’s Needle Mayo For Sam
7.20: Doctor Grace Comfort Line
7.50: Ephesus (Nap) Blackpool
8.20: Williamstowndancer Pink In The Park
