Ardhoomey seen here scoring at Navan under Colin Keane© Photo Healy Racing
Some speedy types will do battle for the Racing Again June 12th Race, as a seven-race card, predominantly comprising of sprints, gets under way at 5.35 at Cork.
Five of the six participants in the top grade event of the evening have an official rating to their name. Ardhoomey is the second lowest with his 101 assessment, but the eye is quickly drawn to Ger Lyons' runner.
That's principally because the Dark Angel gelding has won his last two. He triumphed as recently as last Sunday at Navan, and connections now bid to strike whilst the iron is hot.
Ardhoomey also has decent course form to his credit, having taken second spot behind Paul Midgley's Line Of Reason in the Listed Midsummer Sprint Stakes over the same trip last June.
Lyons' charge had the likes of Russian Soul, Monsieur Joe, Mirza and Abstraction (reported to have scoped badly and to be coughing post-race) behind on that occasion. The latter is in opposition again and he must be respected.
This event certainly won't be easily won, with Ballydoyle's The Happy Prince and Godolphin's Toscanini back from a stint in Meydan in the spring, also strongly in the picture.
Dermot Weld runs the maiden Chapter One but he and stable jockey Pat Smullen have better chances elsewhere, perhaps principally with Aasheq in the Buy Online @ corkracecourse.ie Maiden at 7.35.
Supporters of this Dubawi three-year-old will need to be of a forgiving nature, seeing as the colt has been a beaten favourite on both starts to date.
He was particularly disappointing when a well-beaten fifth, as an 8-11 chance, at Navan in the middle of April.
However, the winners of the couple of races he's competed in to date, have been Epsom Derby fancies US Army Ranger and The Gurkha.
After a little break now, the hope would be that Aasheq can get back on track from a decent draw in stall four. He'll also encounter better ground.
