New territory for Richard O'Brien as Azzuri bids for chase prize at Killarney

Blue was the colour in a rain-soaked Moscow on Sunday evening as the month-long feast of football came to an end, though the Azzurri blue of Italy was not to the fore as the four-time winners were absent from the tournament for the first time since 1958.

A World Cup without the Italians is almost as rare as a runner over jumps for trainer Richard O'Brien, who saddles the equine Azzuri in the Grade B feature Rentokil Initial Handicap Chase (8.00) at Killarney on Tuesday, with the former Dan Skelton-trained performer having been sighted on the Flat most recently.

Danny Mullins takes the mount on the 131-rated chaser in the €50,000 contest over 2m1f, with O'Brien optimistic the six-year-old can put another feather in the cap of his Ballingarry, County Limerick yard.

"This is completely new territory for us" he said. "We gave a 13-year-old one run over hurdles at Limerick last year but this is very different."

AZZURI Ridden by Harry Skelton wins at Ayr 20/4/18Photograph by Grossick Racing Photography 0771 046 1723Credit: Grossick Racing Photography 0771

The Blind Squirrels Syndicate's son of Azamour competes off just 9st 12lb, due to the 157-rated Ballyoisin topping the weights, and O'Brien added: "He had some good form for Dan so we're not expecting to improve on it but if we can have him in a similar frame of mind to when he won on his last start over fences [winning by 15 lengths at Ayr] we'd be hoping he'll run a nice race.

He added: "He's got a nice racing weight and his Flat runs have been very good for us. Ballyoisin will probably be tough to beat but fingers crossed our lad can be competitive."

Aussie Valentine scoring in good style at Tipperary under Thomas SherryCredit: Patrick McCann

Aussie Valentine "loving life"

The 12,000gns Stephen Thorne, assistant trainer to Ado McGuinness, spent on acquiring Irish Lincolnshire stalwart Aussie Valentine last October as a replacement for Bubbly Bellini has proved money well spent, with the likeable performer already earning more than €50,000 for the Lusk, County Dublin team.

"He was always a very good horse, he’s just been rejuvenated with the change in scenery – he’s loving life at the minute and long may it last," said McGuinness. "It was money well spent for us."

Aussie Valentine (silver colours in centre) battling tenaciously in the Nasrullah Handicap at Leopardstown before being claimed close home by Lucius Tiberius (blue and orange nearside)Credit: Alain Barr

Killarney is Tuesday's port of call for the mount of Tom 'Socks' Madden, with the 90-rated performer conceding weight all-round in the mile rated race at 7.00.

McGuinness added: "We were very happy with him last week at Leopardstown and felt he was a little bit unlucky, but he ran a great race. We're happy with him and going to give him another chance; he’s running very consistently at the moment."

Sir Mark Prescott's three runners in the six furlong novice stakes at Chelmsford are drawn widest of allCredit: Edward Whitaker

Prescott triple-handed in Chelmsford novice

Chelmsford plays host to the second of three additional all-weather fixtures brought in to offer an alternative to British turf tracks, which have taken a battering through the extremely dry weather lately, with 65 runners declared for the seven-race card.

Sir Mark Prescott is responsible for three newcomers of the ten set to line up in the 6f novice stakes at 3.20, drawn in stalls eight, nine and ten.

Ryan Tate partners Calling The Wind, who has already been gelded and carries the colours of Sheikh Juma Dalmook Al Maktoum, while The Game Is On – another gelding – will be ridden by 7lb claimer Gavin Ashton.

The filly Ramatuelle completes the trio. She is a sister to former Prescott-trained Cote D'Azur and will be ridden by Rosie Jessop, who claims 3lb.

Gaelic Wizard striding to victory at Hamilton last month under Amy CollierCredit: Grossick Racing 07710461723

Wizard out to provide Tutty with poignant winner

The Karen Tutty-trained evergreen ten-year-old Gaelic Wizard returns to Thirsk on Tuesday in the Class 6 selling handicap over six furlongs (6.40), the scene of two of his ten wins in an 88-race career.

The admirable veteran has been in fine form, winning two of his last four outings, and will be partnered by Tutty's daughter Gemma, who knows him better than anyone with this being the 54th time the pair line-up together.

It would be poignant should the Osmotherley, North Yorkshire-based team visit the winner's enclosure with their stable stalwart, Gemma Tutty having created an online fundraising campaign which raised more than £40,000 for the late Laura Barry, whom she was extremely close to.

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