Punters liking sound of music

Placed sixth in the English 1000 Guineas at Newmarket earlier this month, the Mick Channon-trained Music Show is the 4/1 favourite for Sunday's feature, in what appears a wide-open renewal of the fillies Classic.

Channon may not have been ideally treated at Newmarket when drawn high, and she is all set to take her chance to redeem herself at the Curragh on Sunday.

Channon revealed: "Music Show hasn't done too much. She came out of the Guineas in good heart and has certainly improved since Newmarket. She breezed effortlessly up the six-furlong Summer Gallop this morning. She's fit, well and on course for the Curragh."

BOLD

The former footballer would have appreciated the recent dry spell around the Curragh. He added: "We feel she stands a great chance, although we are at the mercy of the weather as I wouldn't want the ground to be too soft for her."

Richard Hughes, who partners the aforementioned Canford Cliffs in the 2000 Guineas, will be aboard Stan Moore's Lady Darshaan who was 10th at Newmarket and, with a bold showing this weekend, could well be back at the Curragh to contest the Oaks.

Moore said: "She worked this morning and worked well. Richard Hughes will be riding her. She'll have improved for the run at Newmarket, but a lot of the other trainers will be saying the same because the weather was playing havoc.

"I'm expecting a nice run from her, but because of the way the English Guineas worked out I think the Irish Guineas is going to be even hotter. All Classics are hard, but I think this one will be harder than normal.

Regarding the Oaks, Moore concluded: "If she runs a nice race we'll then prepare her for the Irish Oaks because I don't think she'll have a problem staying."

There is an interesting slant to the participation of Lady Springbank, who is trained by Paul Deegan, the current occupier of Frances Crowley's yard Clifton Lodge, and with Crowley having trained Saoire to win the race out of the yard in 2005, Deegan is hopeful of a repeat.

"Lady Springbank is in great form, it's a tough race but I'm looking forward to having my first Group One/Classic runner on Sunday," Deegan said of the filly who landed Leopardstown's 1000 Guineas Trial under Jim Crowley -- who will again renew the partnership on Sunday.

A very interesting contender and current second favourite with Boylesports is the supplemented Lolly For Dolly, who cost connections €32,500 for the late entry and will have to finish in the first three to repay that.

That, however, is a feat connections can be quite hopeful of achieving after Tommy Stack's daughter of Oratorio landed the Athasi Stakes recently, thus setting up this engagement.

"All has gone according to plan with Lolly For Dolly, and she seems well and looks well. We've not done much work with her since her Curragh win as it was only two weeks ago," said Fozzy Stack, the trainer's son and assistant.

"We are hoping for the best and she won her trial easily so deserves to take her chance. I don't think that the ground is an issue and it will be fine for her as it won't be any quicker or slower than good."

Stack continued: "The trip is also fine as she won over an extended mile on her debut, so that isn't a problem. If she finishes in the money it will be a good run."

At yesterday's five-day stage Aidan O'Brien was represented by Famous, Full Of Hope, Lillie Langtry, Queen Of Troy and Remember When, while Jim Bolger will be hopeful Gile Na Greine can go two places better than her Newmarket effort where she was third behind subsequent French 1000 Guineas winner Special Duty.

Kevin Prendergast's Termagant is likely to have many followers after her Group One Moyglare Stud win last season as the trainer bids to win the race for the first time since Arctique Royale in 1981.

Irish 1000 Guineas, Boylesports: Music Show 4/1, Lolly For Dolly 5/1, Anna Salai 5/1, Gile Na Greine 6/1, Termagant 7/1, Lillie Langtry 7/1, Bethrah 12/1, Lady Springbank 12/1, Famous 14/1, Remember When 14/1, Cnocandancer 16/1, Atasari 16/1, Blue Maiden 20/1, Song Of My Heart 25/1, Lady Darshaan 25/1, Crystal Gal 33/1, What About Me 66/1, Full Of Hope 66/1, Queen Of Troy 66/1, Silk Slippers 100/1.