2 listed races in Ireland

Today´s 3 jumps meetings are rather low key and easily the best racing of the day comes at the Irish flat meeting at Navan. Best horse on view is Aidan O´Brien´s Fame and Glory, whose string of big race victories includes the Irish Derby in 2009 and the Coronation Cup last year. A share in him has been sold to Fitri Hay and her retained jockey Jamie Spencer rides him in the listed Vintage Crop Stakes over 1 mile 5 furlongs at 17.05 CET. O´Brien has used this race in the past as a warm-up for the Ascot Gold Cup (Yeats won it twice en route to Ascot) and that is apparently Fame and Glory´s main target. On ratings he should not lose today, but we expect lightly-raced Nebula Storm (John Oxx/ Johnny Murtagh), whose trainer has won this race for the past 2 years, to show considerable improvement and he could take the runner-up spot. The listed Salsabil Stakes for 3yo fillies half an hour later should also mainly concern O´Brien and Oxx, who together account for more than half the f ield. O´Brien´ s main hope could be Gemstone (Colm O´Donoghue), runner-up to the smart Lolly for Dolly last time, while Oxx´ number one should be the Aga Khan´s Kirinda (Murtagh), who won her only start - a modest maiden at Dundalk- last season, but is also expected to show great improvement.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Balmont Mast - Catalpa Sail - Glendaragh
2. Race: Red Army Blues - Nidian - One Of Three
3. Race: Danziger - Ahimsa - An Ghalanta
4. Race: Fame And Glory - Fictional Account - Sense Of Purpose
5. Race: Gemstone - Kirinda - Spin
6. Race: Reasons Unknown - Spirit Of Cuba - Roi Du Boeuf
7. Race: Zanughan - It`S Freezing - Paint Your Wagon