Brendan Brackan© Photo Healy Racing
Brendan Brackan bids for his sixth Listed success when he reappears in the Heritage Stakes at Leopardstown today.
Ger Lyons' stable stalwart, who also has a Group Three triumph to his name, may be nine years old now but age didn't appear to be catching up with him last season, with his campaign book-ended by victories in the Irish Lincolnshire and the Navigation Stakes at Cork. Onenightidreamed and Pincheck were second and fourth respectively in the latter race, but that form was reversed when Pincheck was a place ahead of his rival in fourth in this year's running of the Lincolnshire.
Victorious that day was On The Go Again but he must now bounce back from a subsequent Cork flop.
Aidan O'Brien starts the meeting with three runners in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden and heading the trio is Broadway a half-sister to Danedream who ran with promise on her sole start as a juvenile. Athena and Magic Wand complete the Ballydoyle team, and the stable is doubly represented in the Leopardstown 'Club 30' Membership (C & G) Maiden with Sir Erec and Gardens Of Babylon
The last-named might be the primary hope based on his encouraging third here in the autumn, but he faces a stiff opponent in Jim Bolger's Change Of Velocity who performed well behind a couple of classy O'Brien colts in 2017.
Bolger starts €675,000 purchase Scriobh Nua off in the JJ Kavanagh & Sons Fillies Maiden, and the Coolcullen handler knows the family well, although this looks a potentially informative contest.
The same colours are worn by Kevin Manning on the Brendan Duke-trained Balanced Approach in the Bulmers Live At Leopardstown Handicap, and he has had only a three-day break since finishing fourth at Naas.
Vinnie's Wish beat a subsequent scorer on his final start of last term and attempts to pick up where he left off in the Leopardstown Summer Pass Handicap.
