Can consistent Thunder Kiss continue red-hot Ger Lyons form in Listed prize?

Saturday: 3.25 Cork
Irish Stallion Farms EBF Noblesse Stakes (Listed) | 1m4f | 4yo+ fillies and mares | RTV

Ger Lyons has wasted little time in making a strong impression during the early exchanges of the new season and he looks to have leading claims of adding to his tally with the useful Thunder Kiss.

Markaz Paname's Group 3 win in the Gladness Stakes last weekend followed on from recent Listed successes for the stable through Dr Zempf and Power Under Me, and Thunder Kiss has already landed a Group 3 over this course and distance.

Her biggest ask could be conceding 5lb to soft-ground specialist Barrington Court, who is rated officially 1lb higher than last season's Munster Oaks heroine.

Barrington Court: one of three in the race for Jessica HarringtonCredit: Caroline Norris (racingpost.com/photos)

Conditions were described as soft, yielding to soft in places at Cork at the time of declarations on Thursday, but any drying would go against Barrington Court.

She was beaten two lengths in third when last seen behind winner Thunder Kiss on these terms in the Listed Bluebell Stakes at Naas over 1m4f last October. The going was yielding on that occasion.

Rumbles Of Thunder, a Listed winner in Italy and France, who went unsold at €390,000 in December, is a fascinating recruit to the hugely respected Paddy Twomey yard.

Her rating of 102 puts her on a par with The Blue Brilliant, stablemate of Barrington Court and one of three in the race for Jessica Harrington.

Federica Sophia has a beautiful Moyglare pedigree and brings some decent form to the table from last season, while Powerful Aggie needs to step up from her mark of 96 but looked an improver when second in the premier Naas November Handicap last time.

She traded as low as 1.05 in-running before being denied by the Ger Lyons-trained Yaxeni.

Annerville, trained by Johnny Murtagh, marked herself out as a bright prospect when winning a Leopardstown maiden on her second start last May.

However, she hasn't been seen since disappointing in the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot 303 days ago, so it's difficult to know what to expect from her. Murtagh has his string in good order on the evidence of a Gowran double last Wednesday.

What they say

Paddy Twomey, trainer of Rumbles Of Thunder
She's a new recruit to the yard and has shown a decent level of form in France. Hopefully, she can translate that to here. Like most of Night Of Thunder's progeny, I think she may appreciate a little ease in the ground.

Jessica Harrington, trainer of Barrington Court, Flor De La Luna and The Blue Brilliant
Barrington Court seems in great order this year. We know she enjoys soft ground. Similarly, Flor De La Luna is a staying filly who wants it soft. I thought The Blue Brilliant ran a blinder on her penultimate start last season when second in a Group 3 at Deauville in August.

Andrew Slattery, trainer of Pineapple Express
It's her first start of the season and we're hoping to pick up some black type this year. She has form on soft ground.

Saturday's race previews:

1.50 Newbury: Christophe Soumillon out to make rare British trip pay on this 'cracking horse'

2.25 Newbury: Charlie Appleby: 'we're using this as a springboard to the French 1,000 Guineas'

3.00 Newbury: 'He's the one they have to beat' - find out who is confident for the Greenham

3.00 Newbury: 'There seems to be lots of would-be sprinters' - Keith Melrose on Greenham trend (Members’ Club)

3.14 Musselburgh: Can Emmet Mullins do it again? Grand National hero takes aim at Flat prize

3.35 Newbury: Which Spring Cup runner 'clearly has some unfinished business'?

4.50 Fairyhouse: Paul Townend puts faith in Farout as Willie Mullins fields seven in feature race

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