With the flat season now in full swing I have got three "dark horses" expected to pay their way in coming weeks in my native Ireland.
CONNYELLA
Pat Flynn has enjoyed an excellent season so far and the previously frustrating Connyella did her bit for the yard when landing a handicap at Gowran Park last month. Stepping up in trip appears to have been the making of her, and she did really well to finish third at Fairyhouse when attempting to follow up given that she lost at least four lengths at the start. The daughter of Val Royal has been left on a rating of 53 and a clean break next time could well see her land a similar event over 1m2f+.
DOLPHIN BAY
Although well into the veteran stage now, Dolphin Bay has looked as good as ever in his two starts this summer and ought to be winning again before too long. The ten year-old was a fine servant to the now retired James Burns, scoring eight times in total for the former Curragh handler, and ran really well when a close fourth in a valuable handicap hurdle at Killarney on his first start for John Kiely. He backed that up with an excellent third from a nightmare draw back on the level at Fairyhouse, and given that he remains well below some of his previous winning marks in that sphere it will be disappointing if he fails to add to his impressive career tally.
DENNY CRANE
Denny Crane marked himself down as a handicap winner in waiting when a highly creditable fourth on his first venture outside maiden company at Fairyhouse, staying on strongly to be beaten less than four lengths by the in-form Force Of Habit. Considering that was also his first visit to the racecourse in well over a year there should be plenty of improvement to come from Eddie Lynam’s charge, who looks like he will have no problem staying 1m4f, and he may prove capable of considerably better than his initial rating suggests.
