Review CLONMEL 20TH JUN

Andrew McNamara's team for the Galway Festival is beginning to take shape, with Expat and Shareef Khan both heading for Ballybrit after scoring at Clonmel yesterday evening.

Expat put in a fine round of jumping under Ruby Walsh in the Clancy Construction Beginners Chase to record a 15 lengths victory over Tara Sound. The six-year-old gelding, left clear after two out where Kingstanding made a bad blunder and Babe Ruth fell, will go for a winners event at Killarney next month, and 'the Plate is a possibility at Galway if he can get into the handicap'.

The GPT amateur handicap is the main target for Shareef Khan, who supplied stable claimer Keith Hadnett (23) with his third winner in the Midsummers Day Maiden Hurdle. The well-bred Alzao gelding, who is out of a half-sister to Shahrastani, jumped to the front at the last to beat Wensum Dancer by four and a half lengths.

'He will go next for a two miles handicap at the Curragh on Derby day, and the GPT is the long-term target', said the Limerick handler.

Cork trainer Paul Cashman is also considering a tilt at the GPT with Sail With The Wind, who recorded her third win this year in the June Handicap. The four-year-old filly dug deep in the straight for Philip Carberry to beat Bob's Gone by a length and a half.

'She stays every yard of that trip (12 furlongs), and should get further. I may try her over an extra two furlongs at Bellewstown, and we will have a better idea about the GPT after that', said Cashman, who is also an accomplished amateur rider.

Quest For A Star, the first foal of Breeders Cup heroine Ridgewood Pearl, was expected to take the opening Slievenamon Maiden following his promising second to Hans Anderson at Cork. However the 1/3 chance found little under pressure in the straight, and had to settle for third place behind Natalie Know's.

Aquila Oculus was prominent throughout for Seamus Heffernan in the Suir Handicap, and Tony Mullins' charge struck the front off the home bend to beat Perfect Tripby three lengths.

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