Harty fears heavy ground for Dalmatia Eddie Harty admits the prospect of heavy ground at Limerick on Sunday is a worry as Dalmatia takes a step up in grade in the Kerry Group E.B.F. Shannon Spray Mares Novice Hurdle. The daughter of Cape Cross made a promising debut over timber at Leopardstown over Christmas and duly obliged when sent off favourite at Clonmel on her second outing last month. She pulled right away for an impressive six-and-a-half length victory then and Sunday's Grade Three prize was immediately nominated as her target. Recent rain has been a worry for connections but Harty is happy to have a go at securing some black type in a small field. "She won nicely in Clonmel the last day," said Harty. "I'm very worried about the ground on Sunday to be honest but it's a small field with only eight runners so we'll take our chance and see how she gets on." Not surprisingly, a Willie Mullins runner looks the one they all have to beat, with Lyrical Theatre likely to go off a warm order. The daughter of King's Theatre lost little in defeat when chasing home classy stablemate Morning Run at Fairyhouse in late January. She even appeared likely to trouble the winner in that Grade Three contest until a mistake at the last and that looks outstanding form in the context of this race. Keppols Queen ran well in a good mares' race at Leopardstown over Christmas when chasing home Carrigmoorna Rock and if she can recapture that form back against her own sex, she could get into the mix.
