Black Type Mission For Valentana Willie McCreery is hoping the rain arrives to help Valentana in her quest for black type in the Glencairn Stakes at Leopardstown on Thursday. The five-year-old mare won three handicaps in a row last summer and warmed up for a crack at this Listed contest when finishing strongly to take third place of 20 behind Sea Wolf in a hot Curragh handicap recently. "If the rain comes it will be favourable for her. There is a lot of rain due and we're drawn nicely (in stall two)," said McCreery. "We are trying for a bit of black type for her really." A field of 10 has declared for this mile heat, headed by the Ger Lyons-trained Brendan Bracken, who drops down in class after taking third spot behind Minding in the Group Two Mooresbridge Stakes at Naas. David Marnane saddles the much-travelled Elleval, while Dermot Weld gives Making Light her first run since she landed the Group Three Kilavullan Stakes on this course last October.
