Silver To Showem How It’s Done At Killarney

David Egan is currently scrapping it out to be champion apprentice jockey in Britain and while nothing but winners count in that race, a couple of his potential rides at York could be a bit more special.

Varian Can Batter Them
Despite being apprenticed to Roger Varian, David Egan has only rode one winner for his boss this year and incidentally that was on a horse called Trick Of The Light who he rides in the finale of the Ebor meeting later. That is not one of the two selections ridden by Egan today though!

The Ebor is the big one and the 17-year-old rides Battersea for Varian, a horse that was fourth in this race last year behind Heartbreak City but 12 months on can be the horse that leads them home in the same race.

Last year Battersea ran a fine race behind the Irish raider and was beaten by just over five lengths. Taking Egan’s claim into consideration this time around the horse is running off a 7lbs lower mark and with just two runs in those 12 months has done nothing to expose himself or really damage his credentials.

The six-year-old was gelded over the winter and returned in May, running ok without ever looking to trouble the judge but Varian’s horses were definitely off colour then but are back in fine form now. 9st2lbs is a fine weight, stall 15 isn’t a major negative and…

Battersea looks a fine prospect at 10/1.

Compensation For Ward
Such has been the impression Egan has made during this season, the son of former trainer Sandra Hughes and current rider John Egan has been booked to ride Elizabeth Darcy in the Julia Graves Roses Stakes – a race in which he can’t even use his 5lbs claim.

Trainer Wesley Ward was just touched off with Lady Aurelia in the Nunthorpe yesterday and victory here would only be a small consolation but the juvenile can provide at least that as she is…

picked to turn the tables from Royal Ascot with Elizabeth Darcy.

Meade To Get Silver As Mullins Strikes Gold
Willie Mullins is expected to dominate at Killarney this afternoon on the last day of their August Festival. Robin Des Foret and Miss Sapphire in the same race, Bamako Moriviere, Rathvinden, Poet Power and Koroleva all have to hold strong chances but in the competitive McSweeney Arms Hotel Handicap Hurdle, Noel Meade’s Showem Silver is preferred.

A winner at the Fairyhouse Easter Festival for Noel Meade before turning out again quickly at Punchestown, the six-year-old didn’t get involved at Galway last time but a combination of a couple of mistakes in a packed field and softer ground than ideal might have all played a part to him disappointing.

There has been selective watering at Killarney over the last 24 hours so the ground should be far more like the conditions at Fairyhouse in April and prove ideal for the six-year-old…

who definitely looks capable of winning another race of this calibre.

Recommended Bets:
Battersea (10/1) – 3.35 York
Elizabeth Darcy (4/1) – 4.10 York
Showem Silver (8/1) – 2.35 Killarney

*Prices correct at time of publication.