Well-bred Hope starts off at Leopardstown Aidan O'Brien unleashes a full-brother to Highland Reel as Cape Of Good Hope makes his racecourse debut in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden at Leopardstown on Friday evening. Highland Reel retired at the end of last year having won seven Group Ones so there will be plenty of attention on this son of Galileo, who will be partnered by Ryan Moore. O’Brien also fields two other choicely-bred individuals in Rip Van Winkle’s brother Albuquerque and Christmas, who is related to a number of black-type performers. Dinkum Diamond is a familiar name in the Microsoft Ireland Handicap with the 10-year-old now racing for Andy Slattery having been a Listed performer for Henry Candy in the past. Slattery is also represented in the Bulmers Live At Leopardstown handicap by Flowerhill Nova but there are more obvious winners of the seven-furlong heat, with Gavin Cromwell’s Gunmaker and the Richard O’Brien-trained Alan’s Pride victorious last time out. Newcomer Side Effect, one of the Qatar Racing-owned horses transferred out of Ger Lyons’ yard, makes his debut for Johnny Murtagh in the Irish Stallion Farms Median Auction Maiden, while recent Gowran winner Beach Wedding should also go well for the trainer in the closing Irish Stallion Farms EBF Handicap.
