Dick Brabazon© Photo Healy Racing
Dick Brabazon is hopeful that Yava and Korbous will perform well at the Curragh, but the County Kildare trainer will be keeping a close eye on ground updates from his local track.
Yava goes in the seven-furlong Gabriel Curran Memorial Handicap, having run with promise in his first two handicaps after three runs in maiden company. The four-year-old finished well for fourth in Leopardstown before coming home third at Naas, and Joseph O'Brien is booked for the first time.
Brabazon said: "I am pleased with him. The big question is the change of ground. I don't know if he will handle it, but I'm hoping he will as he has a big foot and a slightly rounded action.
"He didn't get a very hard race on Monday (in Naas) as it was a race with no whips. We are still learning with him and he is very novicey. The handicapper probably has him right (on 70), but he is a big, leggy horse who could turn into a lovely horse. You can't do better than have Joseph on board to teach him."
Johnny and Caroline Murtagh provide stiff opposition with Fix It, who goes for his hat-trick. He faces very different going, though, from what he has been winning on. Port Merrion with a string of placed efforts in the book, will doubtless attract support off a rating of 67.
Korbous faces 15 rivals in the Kerry Businesswomen's Network Handicap. The five-year-old has struck gold over the summer with a win in Leopardstown and three places banked. He has moved up to a mark of 75 and Leigh Roche is again in the saddle.
"He has had his problems, but they have come right and he has been in great form over the summer. I didn't think he was a fast ground horse, but he was. He is in a seam of good form and I think he is still in good form," Brabazon said.
"We have Leigh on board and we get to take the 3lb off this time. I'm hoping he'll run well as his first win (in Gowran Park) came on ground with a dig in it."
Galway hero Beau Satchel is on a four-timer and has shown an aptitude for slow ground, but he got a hike of 12lb for that Ballybrit victory. Hasanour and Shalamzar renew acquaintances from Galway, where the former beat the latter into third by just under two lengths.
Mick Halford's Portage went into many notebooks on Oaks day when he stayed on strongly for second behind East India in a juvenile maiden.
He gets the chance to go one better in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden, but locks horns with Aidan O'Brien's John F Kennedy who carried a lofty reputation into Leopardstown but was a beaten favourite and had to settle for the runner-up berth. Tamadhor who looked like winning on debut in Galway before being collared by Legatissimo close home, can gain quick compensation in the Loder EBF (Fillies) Race. Sligo winner Vocal Nation and Toogoodtobetrue who shed her maiden status at the Curragh, look the dangers. The pair have to give Tamadhor 4lb in this contest. Pearl Earing looks attractive in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF (Fillies) Handicap. David Wachman's three-year-old has enjoyed herself on yielding to soft ground, bagging wins in Sligo and Fairyhouse.
She holds an entry in the Group Three Fairy Bridge Stakes later this month. Connor King takes 3lb off the top weight of 10st.
