Mulvany hoping for rain Trainer Michael Mulvany is hoping for rain to come in the next 24 hours ahead of his promising colt Tough As Nails’ step up to Listed class in the Marble Hill Stakes at The Curragh on Saturday. Tough As Nails was disqualified from first place on his debut at The Curragh in March but made no mistake at Tipperary last month when demolishing a reasonable field, under Gary Carroll. Both runs have been on soft ground and Mulvany today said “I’d like to see some rain as Tough As Nails has never been tried on fast ground and it is really s step into the unknown. His sire Dark Angel won on fast ground but his dam Soreze, which actually won the Marble Hill Stakes in 1994, also won on soft ground.” He added “I’ve only a small yard so I couldn’t be confident but I know he handles a bit of ‘give’ and am hopeful of a big run.” Among Tough As Nails’ rivals are impressive debutante maiden winners Power and Fire Lily. Mulvany also runs Long Time Coming in the concluding Saadiyat Handicap but says “he would also prefer a drop of rain and while I hope he’ll improve from his recent run, the handicapper might just have him.” Thomas Weekes
