Yulong Gold Fairy has some strong form in the book, so now dropped in class looks the answer to the Listed 1m Fairy Glencairn Stakes at Leopardstown on Thursday (18:50).
This Dermot Weld trained four-year-old filly, who is 100/30 with William Hill, has a good strike rate having won four of her 12 starts and also made the frame on two other occasions.
She came good at the fourth time of asking last season when digging deep to beat Pantarr in a Listed contest at Galway on soft ground and backed that up with a solid 2 1/2 lengths fourth of 15 to One Master in a group 2 at Tipperary.
Yulong Gold Fairy went on to round off the campaign with another success when staying on strongly to get up close home and beat Smash Williams by a head in a Group 2 at the same venue.
The daughter of Mount Nelson had Flight Risk a further half-a-length behind in third and, although now 3lb worse off with that re-opposing rival, Jim Bolger’s charge is an exposed eight-year-old so she is taken to confirm the form.
Weld has also won the race three times, including two of the last six renewals, and Yulong Gold Fairy has a strike rate of 50 per cent on the forecast ground.
She should also now be ready to do herself justice following two spins this season in Group 2 company, and gets fitted with cheekpieces for the first time in this lower grade affair.
The aforementioned Flight Risk looks sure to give it his best shot and can be backed at 9/4 with 888Sport.
Surrounding scored in good style last time out, meanwhile, and is a best-price 5/1 with Boylesports.
Rakan impossible to oppose in King George V Cup
The other Listed race on a competitive card is the King George V Cup over 1m 4f (19:55).
Rakan looks in a different league to his two rivals and a worthy 4/6 red-hot favourite with 888Sport to complete a big race double for Weld.
This son of Derby winner Sea The Stars shaped with plenty of promise on debut as a juvenile when a tenderly handled seven-length third of nine to Norway at Naas.
He then showed the benefit of that kind introduction when staying on strongly to comfortably land a 20-runner maiden over a mile at this venue by 2 3/4 lengths.
It was a most taking display in a race which has thrown-up a whole host of subsequent winners, and one that suggested Rakaan would make up into a smart three-year-old.
That view was confirmed on seasonal reappearance when Rakan finished a keeping on keeping on 4 3/4 lengths fourth of seven to Broome in the Group 3 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial Stakes over 1m 2f here.
The winner is a top class colt who has since run a blinder to finish a half-quarters of a length fourth to stable companion Anthony Van Dyck in the Group 1 Epsom Derby, so that gives the form a rock solid look in relation to this lower grade contest.
Rakan is also top rated in the line-up off 102, and that puts him 9lb clear of nearest market rival Barbados. It makes him impossible to oppose.
Barbados hails from the all-conquering yard of Aidan O’Brien, who saddled Giuseppe Garibaldi to land the spoils 12 months ago, and is progressing nicely, so looks the obvious one to chase home Rakan for straight forecast backers.
Treble Cone looks tasty in Sandwich
In the 1m ‘Ham Sandwich’ Handicap (19:25), the Gerard Keane trained Treble Cone looks decent value at 6/1 with BetVictor to get back to winnings ways.
This four-year-old son of Lethal Force took advantage of a drop in the weights to open his account two starts ago over course and distance when landing a 20-runner contest in good style.
After racing in midfield, Treble Cone made good headway in the straight to take up the running inside the last before stating on strongly to beat Passing Trade by half-a-length off a mark of 64.
He has since run really well off 70 to finish a head third of 18 to Latchet at The Curragh, when holding every chance inside the last before being unable to find any extra close home.
Treble Cone is clearly right at the top of his game at present, so it’s no surprise to see connections turn him out quickly having been put up just another 2lb by the assessor.
Having started life off in handicaps on 73, the progressive Treble Cone still looks well-treated off his revised rating of 72.
His proven course form and ability to handle big fields are other pluses, so he looks to have more going for him than most in the wide-open contest in which 19 are set to run.
Atlas, a 15/2 chance with Betfred, also comes into the race in good form and is a course and distance winner, so looks sure to make a bold bid despite having to shoulder top weight of 10st.
Another with each-way claims is the John Oxx trained Miss Zizi who found only Tony The Gent too good last time out when beaten 1 3/4 lengths at Gowran Park and is now 2lb below her last winning mark. She can be backed at 17/2 with Bethard.
