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- Intrepid bidding to follow-up at Naas
Intrepid bidding to follow-up at Naas
Intrepid Prince was an easy winner at Galway on Friday
© Photo Healy Racing
Plenty of those in the betting ring at Galway won't be forgetting the name of Friday's gambled-on winner Intrepid Prince in a hurry and he can carry on the good form to Naas, with Michael O'Callaghan's runner out quickly under a mandatory 5Ib penalty.
Leigh Roche did the steering on the Royal Applause three-year-old at Ballybrit, and he's aboard again on Monday when the gelding bids to defeat 15 in the second split of the Palmerstown House Estate Remembering Anne Brewster Handicap.
Intrepid Prince defied an unfavourable draw at Galway, and he hasn't had much luck from that viewpoint this time either. He's berthed out in stall 14 but such was the ease of his recent win that he may well be capable of going in again.
There could be further success for O'Callaghan and his followers, beginning with Mirdif in the Billy's Bus Supporting Naas Hurling Race.
Part of the Plus 10 scheme, this six-furlong opener has attracted a field of just five but it's got quality. The Pat Smullen-ridden Mirdif is officially rated 102 and that sees him nicely ahead of rivals, Noivado (92) and Confrontational (87).
The Ballydoyle War Front colt Leo Minor has been beaten on his two starts to date but still needs respecting back in trip. John Murphy's first-timer Massif Central (Kevin Manning up) completes the quintet.
It might not end there for O'Callaghan and Smullen as the Qatar Racing Limited-owned Makfi colt Beast is there with his chance in the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Maiden. A promising fourth placing at the Curragh 16 days back sees the juvenile arrive here as a leading hope.
There are several interesting first-timers in the mix and the market will have to be monitored with regard to these.
Elsewhere, Tribal Path goes for a fifth win in succession in the KC Civil Engineering Supporting Naas Hurling Handicap, and O'Callaghan and Smullen need to be considered here too with I Will Excel