Jessica Harrington bullish over Indigo Balance's chances down in grade

Follow Tipperary On Facebook Race | 5f | 3yo+ | RTV

This is a cracker for the grade. Erosandpsyche, Indigo Balance and Steel Bull are rated 100 or more, while Verhoyen will come into it on the ground.

When the rain comes at Tipperary, they tend to come stands' side, meaning those who are drawn high have a big advantage.

Erosandpsyche may be unbeaten in two visits to Tipperary, but it will take a big performance to win this from stall one if the ground comes up on the soft side.

Likewise with Steel Bull, who is drawn in stall two, although it's not just the draw that poses a question with Michael O'Callaghan's colt.

A winner of his first two starts as a two-year-old, including the Molecomb, Steel Bull has not built on his initial promise.

One may argue he showed some of his old spark when third in the Scurry Stakes at Sandown last time, but the form of that race hasn't worked out.

Steel Bull: won the Molecomb at Glorious Goodwood last yearCredit: Alan Crowhurst

There would appear to be more positives surrounding Indigo Balance. He is dropping in class, well drawn, proven over course and distance and has the assistance of a top 5lb claimer in Scott McCullagh.

The Jessica Harrington-trained five-year-old could be hard to beat from stall nine, while Verhoyen may outrun his odds from stall ten with so much in his favour.

What they say

Kieran Cotter, trainer of Erosandpsyche
He's won twice over course and distance. We're putting a line through his run in the Sapphire because a small problem came up afterwards. We still think he's a very good horse. The draw is not ideal but if there's plenty of pace on, we could slot in and track over to the stands' side.

Jessica Harrington, trainer of Indigo Balance
I'm very hopeful and the more rain we get, the better. He has been running in better races than this, so hopefully the drop in class will be a help. He's also well drawn.

Michael Grassick, trainer of Verhoyen
He got balloted out of the Stewards' Cup. That was the main target, so we really need to get a run into him. Five furlongs is probably a little on the short side but if the ground is slow, he'd have to have a chance. Hopefully the rain comes. It's a competitive race and nearly everything has a chance. We're drawn well though, so hopefully the rain arrives and that will leave us with a good chance.

Fozzy Stack, trainer of Back To Brussels
She handled the track very well when she was second there two starts back, so hopefully she can run well again. She doesn’t mind getting her toe in, but I don't know if she'd want it very soft so we'll see.

Paddy Twomey, trainer of Dancin Inthestreet
We were disappointed with her first run for us, but she showed more of what I was expecting at Naas last time. I'm hoping she will run to a good level here again and that she will keep coming forward.

Watch live races through the Racing Post. Log in to your bookmaker account and look on the racecards for eligible races. Click the red 'Watch live now' icon and they're off! Find out how here