Mauiewowie

(Ger Lyons)

Cork, May 5th

Mauiewowie was a beaten favourite on her comeback in the Listed Polonia Stakes at Cork but she ran a fine race in defeat and looks capable of progressing into a pattern race sprinter this term. Ger Lyons’ filly raced up the centre and delivered a strong challenge at the furlong pole but ultimately couldn’t get to Fix You, who was race fit and proven on soft ground. With Lyons holding his string back on account of the soft ground conditions so far this season, it may be the case that Mauiewowie improves for better ground. In any case, she held form with the talented Treasure Trove, whom she beat last year in a listed contest at the Curragh, before Paddy Twomey’s filly won on her next two starts.

Tosen Wish

(Ado McGuinness)

Cork, May 5th

Tosen Wish is a colt to follow this season. He ran a huge race to be beaten just three lengths by Earls in the valuable Mallow Handicap over the straight seven furlongs at Cork last Friday evening. Detached from the field two furlongs into the race, he did seriously well to get himself into the contest, negotiating traffic on his way through, but still able to grab fifth on the line.

This was his first run for Ado McGuinness and in the Team Valor silks. He has only had four starts altogether so there is loads of scope for him to improve. By New Bay, he raced like a mile would be well within his compass.

Caroline Street

(Joseph O’Brien)

Naas, May 6th

Under a steady pace, the time for the Blue Wind Stakes at Naas on Saturday wasn’t impressive but that says plenty for the winner Caroline Street, who on seasonal debut, had to make her ground from the rear of the field, and did so impressively, quickening past her rivals before holding off the late challenge of her stablemate Lumiere Rock.

A daughter of No Nay Never, it’s likely this 10-furlong trip is at her limit and maybe the race pace played to her strengths but she was taking on race-fit rivals, and was also weak in the market beforehand, suggesting she defied low expectations. She finished second to Auguste Rodin in the Champions Juvenile Stakes, so has already run to a fair standard as a juvenile. Her trainer mentioned the Pretty Polly as a target, but she could even more effective coming back to nine furlongs or a mile.

Gegenpressing

(Eddie and Patrick Harty)

Naas, May 6th

Gegenpressing caught the eye when fourth to Dandyville in a six-furlong handicap at Naas. Eddie and Patrick Harty’s gelding was the only horse inside the first seven to race on the stands’ side, so he did really well to get to within four lengths of the winner, in turn finishing four lengths ahead of the horses he raced with earlier in the race. He was racing off a mark of 68 here, 1lb higher than his last winning mark, so he looks ready to win again.

Banks Boy

(Gordon Elliott)

Cork, May 6th

Banks Boy should be able to win races this summer for Gordon Elliott. He put up a fine run on his comeback from a 337-day break when going down by just a half-length to Ceroc in a two-and-a-half-mile handicap hurdle at Cork. He should come on plenty for that outing, and he looks progressive now, considering he only won his maiden hurdle at Down Royal last June. Notably, he was only beaten a half length by the useful Macs Charm in a Navan handicap hurdle earlier in his career as well. He is rated 115, but looks capable of getting to 130 in the coming months.

Tarawa

(Dermot Weld)

Leopardstown, May 7th

It was interesting that when asked about Tahiyra running in the Irish 1000 Guineas last Sunday evening, Dermot Weld namechecked Tarawa as a strong possibility for that race after her fine seasonal debut second to Zarinsk in the Group 3 Cornelscourt Stakes at Leopardstown. Held up in the 11-runner field, she made good ground past the likes of Aspen Grove and American Sonja, and was closing in on Zarinsk as they got to the line. The winner is talented but Tarawa may be the best filly in the race in time, given this was just her third start and first of the season. All of her runs have come on soft ground but her high class family were mostly just as good on a decent surface.

Giladah

(Dermot Weld)

Leopardstown, May 7th

Giladah found one too good in a 10-furlong handicap at Leopardstown on her bid to build on a most promising comeback run at Cork, but there were mitigating factors, namely how keenly she raced earlier in the race. That may have told late on when she had no answer to the smart finish of Smooth Tom, but she still ran well in the circumstances. Dropping back to a mile or nine furlongs could be interesting for her now, or indeed just racing off a stronger pace, but nevertheless, she has put two solid runs together already this term and looks capable of landing a race off her current assessment of 88.

Selective Power

(Thomas Coyle)

Gowran Park, May 10th

Selective Power put up arguably his best career performance when third to A Shin Undine in an extended mile-and-half-a-furlong handicap at Gowran Park on Wednesday. Thomas Coyle’s gelding raced prominently and boxed on strongly in the straight, only for his effort to fade late in the final furlong.

He’d be interesting now back over a mile. He’s out of a half-sister to Slade Power, and though he struggled to make a significant impact for Eddie Lynam, he looks capable of landing a race now for his new trainer.

Estepona Sun

(Charles Byrnes)

Clonmel, May 10th

Estepona Sun was probably given an easy lead in a two-mile novice hurdle at Clonmel on Thursday but he still he ran a fine race when only giving way to two race fit and useful sorts in Gentleman Joe and Stuzzikini. He led that pair to the second last, after which he probably got a little tired on the soft ground and on his first start in 224 days. He was a rock solid sort last summer, hitting the frame on five of his eight starts and on this evidence he might well be an improved horse.

Emir Des Rots

(Conor O’Dwyer)

Clonmel, May 10th

Emir De Rots was an eyecatching third in the two miles and three-furlong handicap hurdle won by Lucky Zebo at Clonmel. From a most unpromising position in the straight, he picked up really well for Charlie O’Dwyer and only just missed out on second. He outran his odds of 20/1 here, and in doing so put together a second solid run, having finished fourth on his penultimate start. He looks capable of scoring now off a mark in the low 100s.