Mur Hiba (left)© Photo Healy Racing
Mur Hiba makes a belated first start of the campaign in the www.navanracecourse.ie Race on Friday night.
Michael O'Callaghan 's filly improved with every run as a two-year-old, winning at the third time of asking at the Curragh before beating all bar Hit The Bid in a Group Three back at Headquarters.
She must concede race-fitness to four rivals, including Music Box, who has had 10 outings already this year and reappears just six days on from her victory in handicap company at Naas. Solar Halo had been progressive prior to her latest Leopardstown disappointment, with the field completed by Red Sabor and Swish Verhoyen is given another chance to get off the mark in the Foran Equine Irish EBF Auction Maiden.
The Michael Grassick-trained colt has been turned over at short odds twice since going close in the Listed Rochestown Stakes, and has Fairyhouse runner-up Sankari Royale to contend with now.
The Galway Festival is just around the corner and Vastonea a dual winner at the Ballybrit extravaganza, returns to action in the Emerald Facility Services Event Cleaning Apprentice Handicap.
The veteran hasn't been seen since October, whereas Dancing Doll got a run under her belt when third in the Ulster Oaks and might be the one to beat. Suburban Sky struck at Bellewstown recently, just a day after Bien Chase registered a Fairyhouse triumph, and they do battle in a very competitive Navan Members Handicap. Sammyjade returned to form when runner-up at Tipperary a couple of weeks ago and attempts to go one better in the Lynn Lodge Stud Maiden, in which Mirror Man is her main opponent. Discovery Lad would appear best treated by the conditions of the opening Barbecue Evening Claiming Race, while Kalann has shown more signs of life of late and goes in the concluding Come Racing 2nd September Handicap.
