Flat Season Kicks Off At Curragh It is difficult to look beyond contenders from the yards of the ?big four´ when the 2007 flat season begins at the Curragh on Sunday. However a smaller outfit could make a dream start to the new campaign with Master Marvel selected as a strong each-way hope for the Ladbrokes.com Irish Lincolnshire Premier Handicap. This along with the Group 3 Lodge Park Stud EBF Park Express Stakes (for fillies and mares) are the chief events of interest on a seven race programme due to begin at 2.25. The Jackpot is guaranteed for E10,000. Thomond O´Mara runners have been conspicuous by their absence on the track lately but his point-to-pointers have been keeping the Fethard, Co. Tipperary trainer´s flag flying. His Master Marvel performs well after a break, he was quite consistent at this sort of level in 2006 and the half-brother to that really good filly, Pictavia, looks likely to reward his each-way backers in the E100,000 twenty five runner centrepiece mile handicap. Bawaader sluiced up here last year but he has a lot more on his plate now off this sort of mark. Hero in 2005, Victram is sure to put up a bold showing and another with a big chance is Ridge Boy. The Group 3 can be whittled down to a few with serious chances. Danehill Music caused a 10/1 surprise in this contest last year but she was tried in cheekpieces and blinkers later on in an otherwise fruitless campaign and she is passed over now. Ardbrae Lady was runner-up to Nightime in the Irish 1,000 Guineas and she would be a deserving victor here but she doesn´t win very often (one from eighteen, much of that in the best of company). Dimenticata (unproven on testing ground) and Cheyenne Star (plenty to do conceding weight to the three-year-olds) are taken on for those reasons. La Conquistadora seems sure to go well but the maiden, Truly Mine is worth chancing. It seems very significant that Dermot Weld pitches her in here (after one very promising effort) and the E200,000 yearling can upset some of the others.Rosewell House can also capture the Ladbrokes Card Handicap with Tajneed. As likeable and all as Senor Benny is, it will take a mighty performance to defy top-weight here. The front-runner, Orpailleur is very much respected as the grey stays a lot further than this, he goes well fresh and he has champion jockey, Declan McDonogh on his back. However it is hard to pass Tajneed. The Alhaarth´s go very well when the mud is flying as Tajneed proved over course and distance in October in the Joe McGrath EBF Premier Handicap. Drawn two of twenty on that occasion, he turned it into a stamina test (7f is probably his trip) by making all and maybe out of box six that will be achievable again with just thirteen rivals. Hopefully Tajneed can defy an 11Ib rise in the ratings for that big success 154 days ago. The first two can go to Ballydoyle. Without representation in this event in the previous two years, Aidan O´Brien has obviously been getting the right vibe from Georgebernardshaw. This fellow is by Danehill Dancer, and on the corresponding card in 2006 (run off on soft to heavy ground), it is worth noting that his stock scored twice, Danehill Music taking the Group 3 Park Express Stakes (she bids for a follow-up now) and Spring Snowdrop landing the three-year-old seven furlong handicap. His most dangerous rivals could prove to be Scupio (by Intikhab, sire of the smart sprinter, Moon Unit, who went on soft) and stable select of Jim Bolger, My Girl Sophie (by Danzig, responsible for a promising pair of juveniles last term, namely Capital Exposure and Haatef). He may be drawn wide in 23 and have a 311 day absence to overcome but Abraham Lincoln is still worth rowing in behind in the 2.55. This Danehill colt started his racing life in the listed Coolmore Stakes at this track last May and after being slow to break he was soon pushed along, never really looking likely to play a prominent part when nearly seven lengths off Drayton. Odds-on just over a fortnight after, he had every chance inside the final furlong when outpointed by a head by Sadeek (pair clear) in a York maiden. He acts on soft on that evidence and should prove difficult to beat. Regalline (out of the brilliant Rebelline) was reportedly being readied to compete last August so presumably things haven´t gone entirely to plan but she is highly-rated and potentially dangerous. Young Lochinvar is another likely type, being by Pivotal (sire of the good two-year-old fillies last year, Brazilian Bride and La Conquistadora). Satu meanwhile, is well-drawn, and has the assistance of Johnny Murtagh. Slaney Time is definitely capable of reaching the frame - at least. Rock Of Gibraltar sired the winners of nine races in this country in 2006 and it was very noticeable how well they coped with testing underfoot conditions examples being Eagle Mountain, Theann, Mount Nelson, Rock Lily and Offbeat Fashion. The 4.55 is a tight handicap and Jim Bolger´s Anna´s Rock looks sure to appreciate stepping back up to seven furlongs and she may be the one to beat. Warriors Key is feared most but in reality as the case should be with a race like this, a success for any one of the eight of them wouldn´t overly shock. Whatever else happens with the Coolcullen runners during the afternoon, Bolger supporters should be going home happy with Creachadoir (Gaelic word for plunderer) having outstanding claims for such a maiden. A half-brother to the very smart, Youmzain, this King´s Best bay began by finishing third to the subsequent Group 2 victor, Eagle Mountain (he ran green and found the 6f trip inadequate there) and then finished fourth to Holy Roman Emperor in the Group 2 Railway Stakes (again crying out for further). The 83,000 yearling can win here before going on to better things.
