Palmones bids to follow up course-and-distance win

7.05 Ballinrobe
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Palmones will carry plenty of local support when she bids to follow up last month's course-and-distance win for Ballinrobe businessman and trainer Michael Flannery.

Bought for €6,500 at Goffs in November after twice scoring for Andy Oliver, the Rock Of Gibraltar four-year-old gave Flannery his first win for more than five years when slipping through on the inside on the final bend to win by a length and a half under 5lb claimer Denis Linehan, who is back on board.

Flannery said on Sunday: "Palmones is in good form. Although the race has cut up to only six runners, it looks a better race than the one she won last time. We're just hoping she might do the job again."

At nine, Vastonea is the oldest horse in the race and trainer Kevin Prendergast reports him in "good shape" for his bid for a seventh win.

Dylan Hogan, who claims 7lb, rides and Prendergast said: "We were happy with Vastonea's first run of the season at Navan. The run should have done him good and he looks to have a realistic chance."

Vastonea's biggest paydays have been at the Galway festival, where he won the valuable Topaz Mile in 2012 and 2014.

"We'll see how things go tomorrow before deciding if we'll send him back to Galway," added Prendergast.

Heading the weights is the Michael Halford-trained Castle Guest, a seven-time winner whose most recent success was achieved over a mile at Leopardstown almost a year ago.

Dual winners Snoozing Indian and Remarkable Lady represent Thomond O'Mara and Harry Rogers respectively, while the Ado McGuinness-trained Rosenborg Rider, an all-weather winner over six furlongs for Ralph Beckett last year, completes the line-up.