Halford's Anamba returns at Naas Trainer Mick Halford is relishing the seasonal reappearance of his exciting filly Anamba in the Owenstown Stud Stakes at Naas on Sunday. The daughter of Shamardal narrowly beat the high-class Coolmore on her racecourse debut at Leopardstown last September before being touched off by the same filly in the Group Three Weld Park Stakes at the Curragh a couple of weeks later. Anamba has not been seen in competitive action since then and is pitched in against the boys for her comeback in this Listed contest. Halford said: " She is in very good form and it will be good to get her started. "We didn't get to run her last weekend at the Curragh when the ground went soft, but this looks a nice race for her with her rating. "She's been slow to come to hand, mainly because of the wet spring we had, but I've been happy with her the last couple of weeks and she's ready to start back. "She's a smart filly." Halford also runs the admirable Hasanour and Orcia. The Copper Beech Stables trainer said: "Hasanour is in good form and also missed an engagement last weekend because of the ground," Halford added. "A mile is his best trip, but it's a stiff seven (furlongs) in Naas, so hopefully he'll be fine. "We're chasing a bit of black type with Orcia, who has improved from her first run in Gowran." Lily's Rainbow caused an upset when winning the Listed Heritage Stakes at Navan in mid-April and trainer Denise Foster is hoping for another positive showing. She said: "It looks a hot race and we have a wide draw, but she's in great form and I'm hoping she bounce out quick and make the running like she did in Navan. "It's a slight risk coming back to seven furlongs, but it's a stiff uphill finish in Navan and hopefully she'll be all right. "I'm looking forward to it. The ground won't be as soft as it was in Navan, but we think she's pretty versatile. "I'm hoping she can progress to Group Three level after this."
