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Lyons gives Ballyroan full support

Trainer Ger Lyons Trainer Ger Lyons
© Photo Healy Racing

Ger Lyons is outspoken in some of his views, but the Group One-winning trainer's opinions are always worth listening to, and his reasons for running Roheryn in the Group Three Ballyroan Stakes at Leopardstown on Thursday are somewhat cautionary.

Roheryn was withdrawn from the Give Thanks Stakes at Cork on Tuesday due to the deteriorating rain-soaked ground.

And while she is now declared on soft ground at Leopardstown, Lyons said: "This morning there were only three horses declared and I wasn't going to let a Group Three go by with only three runners.

"As it transpires, there are now five runners and while I'm only doing my job, if we don't start supporting these races, we'll lose them.

"It was a no-brainer to run her being a filly who is looking for more black type but obviously she's a top-of-the-ground filly and if there's any more rain and the ground deteriorates we'll think about taking her out.

"The sun is splitting the rocks here at the moment and if there's a dry day today and tomorrow the ground might dry out.

"Leopardstown can be an enigma in that regard anyway."

Roheryn was last successful in the King George V Cup in June when she beat the reopposing Streetcar To Stars by a nose.

Both three-year-old fillies face three older, and far more experienced rivals, with El Salvador and Eye Of The Storm representing Aidan O'Brien and Jim Bolger sending out Chance To Dance

Elsewhere on the card, the O'Brien-trained John Constable is the horse with the highest official rating.

Leading Light tackles two miles for the first time in the Dublin Racing Club At Leopardstown Handicap, while Ballydoyle will have high hopes of maiden wins with Hail The Hero Illusive and newcomer A Greater Force in their respective heats.

About Tom Weekes
A lifelong racing fan, Tom began writing point to point reports in 2002 and has reported for irishracing.com since 2003, when he joined Irish Racing Services - since taken over by the Press Association. Has ridden a point to point winner and won the 2018 Irish Field Naps Table.