HAWK TO SOAR AS APRIL UNRACED CONTINUES

Ian Fortune

The April Unraced Stake continues at Enniscorthy this evening and all eyes will be on Hogans Hawk in the opening semi-final to see if she can repeat last week’s superb 28.80 return. If doing so, it would need something very special from one of her rivals to deny her a second career victory.

The obvious dangers come in the form of second round winners Johnnys Dilemma and Roanna Model. Both went up strongly in their respective victories last time but are drawn on the wrong side of Hogans Hawk.

Willie O’Connor’s Hogans Hawk is chosen to take charge into the turn before running out a good winner for the second week running. Johnnys Dilemma can emerge as the main threat.

AUTUMN TO FOLLOW UP

The second heat is no less intriguing. Little separates Ballybreenautumn, Piercestown Page and Dellser Jack on last week’s clocks, although only Ballybreenautumn actually won their second round assignment.

She took charge early to win by a wide margin in 29.12. She will again look to get loose in the early yards but this is far from an easy task. Slaine Chloe has a kind draw in two and seems certain to improve on form and can also get involved, while Piercestown Page and Dellser Jack are knocking on the door and seem likely to open their account soon. Slight preference is for Ballybreenautumn but nothing can be taken for granted.