LADIES TO DELIGHT AT SHELBOURNE IN CHRISTMAS OAKS

Ian Fortune

The Bernard Barry Christmas Oaks begins this evening with the participants chasing a bigger than normal €10,000 winner’s purse.

The five opening round heats dominate the action at Shelbourne Park and the resulting action should be very competitive.

GRIP TO LET RIP

Short Grip has been installed favourite with the layers and she begins her challenge in the last of the five heats, which also happens to be the deepest and most competitive of the round.

Drawn in four, Pat Cocoman’s star will need to hit the ground running from four if she is to turn in front.

Westway Rossa has an ideal draw on the fence and is nominated as a big threat but so too is Mustang Fever in the stripes of six. Throw in the wonderfully consistent Hawkfield Abbie, the strong running Clonfert Annie and Galway Oaks champion Drombeg Pearl and it is quite a contest.

The vote goes to Short Grip given her wonderful trapping ability and all-round pace. She can lead home Westway Rossa and Mustang Fever.

BABE READY TO SHINE

The opening heat is a wide-open affair. Both Fashion Model and Lets Go Bubbles are top class but are returning from a long layoff.

The latter moved well in a recent trial and is respected but Youandme Babe is given the nod.

A superb winner of the Winter Racing Festival Dual Distance over 850yds last time, she can make a winning return to four bends from an ideal draw on the fence. Only a few weeks ago, she posted a stunning 28.07 for the 525yd trip and that would be more than enough to see her come home in front this evening.

Coolavanny Ogie will finish well but is unlikely to win if failing to lead Youandme Babe early. Glenpervie Pookie has plenty of fine form but must come away racing from a tricky draw in four, while Rich Pursuit has yet to win since moving up to open company.

Youandme Babe can turn close to the pace from her inside draw before pouncing from halfway. Coolavanny Ogie and Lets Go Bubbles can emerge as the main dangers.

LADY LOOKS THE PART

Grangeclare Lady will be one of the warmest favourites of the night in Heat 2.

Many of her rivals are talented but recent Winter Racing Festival winner Grangleclare Lady has tremendous early speed and can hit the front before the turn. If doing so, the likes of Ardera Freya, Highview Mia and Arent We All could find themselves playing catch up.

IS SHE THERE TO CONTINUE WINNING WAYS

Fresh from her victory in the Winter Racing Festival Championship Bitch 525, Is She There has to be seen as the one to beat in Heat 3.

She may be drawn a little further off the fence than last week but that could suit if coming away racing.

She could potentially find herself with room to race and is selected to come home in front of Silverhill Freya and Deelish Nora.

BEAUTY TO DRIVE CLEAR AGAIN

One of the big finds of the Winter Racing Festival was Drive On Beauty.

She won one of the supporting sweepstakes that concluded last Friday. Showing fine speed into the turn, she dominated in both her semi-final and final, clocking 28.41 and 28.39. One suspects she could go even faster if conditions allow in Heat 4. 

On current form she has to get the nod ahead of fellow Festival winner Pennys Cailin, who will finish at speed, and Mustang Sally.