Coolnagree returns in Fairy Bridge Willie McCreery is looking forward to seeing his talented filly Coolnagree return from a mid-summer break in the Fairy Bridge Stakes at Tipperary. The three-year-old grey showed a good level of form in nurseries as a juvenile and has taken her game to another level this season, impressive in a Curragh handicap on her return before running second in two Listed races at the same track. She returns from over three months off and steps up to Group Three level on Thursday and McCreery's only slight concern is the very testing ground in prospect. "We've given her a little break after a busy spring and she's going into this race fresh and well," said the trainer. "She's run well each time this year and hopefully she'll run another big race. "I'm not sure she'll ever have run on ground this deep before. She's was running on quite soft ground earlier in the year but I think it could be very soft tomorrow. "We'll see what happens, but we're hopeful." A field of 11 have been declared for the seven-furlong test, with Dermot Weld's Yellow Rosebud the highest rated filly in the field. Aidan O'Brien saddles Empowering and After, while there are also two interesting British challengers in Boastful and Radio Gaga. Boastful won on her debut for Elaine Burke in a Listed race at Goodwood having been recruited from France and while she failed to fire at Epsom next time, she has since run two sound races in defeat. Burke's husband, Karl, said: "She should handle the ground all right and she's in good form, so hopefully she can pick up some more black type. "She's run well over six furlongs the last twice but she won over a mile for us first time at Goodwood and I think seven furlongs will suit her well tomorrow. "The ground is really the key to her, so we're very hopeful." Ed McMahon had Classic aspirations for Radio Gaga at the start of the campaign, but she finished well held in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket. However, she has since landed a Listed prize in the mud at Warwick and possibly found things happening too quickly back over six furlongs at York last time out. "She's very well and we're going over there for the ground. It's obviously pretty slow and that suits her well," said McMahon. "It's quite a sharp track Tipperary, but her draw isn't bad (stall six) and I think she deserves a crack at a race like this. "Coming back to six furlongs for the Summer Stakes at York was a bit of a shot in the dark and I think she'll be better back over seven furlongs tomorrow on easier ground. "She's not a filly with a great turn of foot but she'll keep galloping and she's resolute." Lady Wingshot was a winner last time for Jim Bolger, while Caprella, One Fine Day, Redoutable and Singing Bird complete the field.
