White Caviar can bring glory to trainer Joseph O’Brien at Down Royal

The Joseph O’Brien-trained White Caviar gets the vote to claim the featured fillies handicap on this evening’s Down Royal card.

Already a dual winner who handles soft going, the selection has Mellow Magic and the locally trained Gradulations as the principal dangers.

Racing gets under way with a two-year-old maiden and the Ger Lyons-trained My Mate Alfie is a likely short-priced favourite following two solid placed efforts at the Curragh.

Aidan O’Brien’s Battle Cry is open to improvement, however debutant Starliner, trained by O’Brien’s son Donnacha, could prove the threat.

Scarlet Dancer, Eruption and Peerless – the trio having filled second on their most recent starts – bring the most appeal in the five-furlong sprint.

Peerless has champion jockey Colin Keane aboard and a good draw, while trainer Denis Hogan also has top-weight Conversant engaged, and a winner on his penultimate effort at Sligo could pose a danger to his stablemate.

Nakassama, trained by James McAuley, finished runner-up on his Fairyhouse debut when denied by a neck in a photo-finish, but can gain compensation in the EBF Maiden.

Tommy Thug, who is trained at Caledon by Andy Oliver, appears to be the main danger along with Golden Spangle, while another local contender, Rhodesia, has place prospects.

Banbridge trainer Natalia Lupini, who trains the latter-most, could get on the scoresheet with Alma Libre in the mile and a quarter handicap – a Fairyhouse winner on his penultimate race.

Hutton Glen looks a bigger danger than top-weight Boher Road, a Navan winner last weekend.

Spy, Bella Nebula and Mads Black Eights are a trio to note in the betting, while Savigny, on his handicap debut, is worth watching out for in a very open contest.

The Apprentice Handicap is another complex puzzle of the card. Court Of Appeal, Thefaithfullindian, Blackstone Cliff and Herculaneum are the quartet to focus on.

The finale is another tricky handicap for punters.

Cruisin Lan, representing Kevin Prendergast, gets a tentative selection if he repeats his Limerick effort, when he was a narrow runner-up.

Threats are numerous, with Slaney Tide having won last time and Stone Crafter, Evening’s Empire – fourth at the course on his latest start – Fratas and Master Dunraven all obvious dangers. North Dorset, Alluring and Siouxanne are a notable trio making their handicap debut.

SELECTIONS: 5.10 My Mate Alfie; 5.45 Peerless; 6.20 Nakassama; 6.55 Alma Libre; 7.25 White Caviar; 8.00 Court Of Appeal; 8.30 Cruisin Lan.