The bustling streets of Dublin were teeming with smiling faces on Friday, everybody enjoying the remarkably warm weather, even though there was some irony to the fact that many were taking part in a climate change protest at the time.
This means
Gowran Park has fast terrain for Saturday's meet, Sunday being another day off for the industry, or at least for some of the stable staff who do not have to work as a consequence.
Last weekend was a tipping bloodbath; let's hope for a better one this time!
Peaceful is a sister to two good horses in Easter and El Greco, out of a Listed winner by Stravinsky. The booking of Donnacha O'Brien suggests she is probably the main pick for Ballydoyle here. Her debut offering was very much the norm for a Galileo-bred debutante trained by Aidan O'Brien, in that she was green and not knocked about. Dramatic progress seems a given.
Rider
Vanessa Maye awaits her first winner; perhaps her time is nigh and that of Out On Friday. He certainly looks capable of winning races, losing at least two or three lengths when nearly brought to a standstill at the Curragh last time, keeping on nicely under May to come home ninth. He could finish with a rattle here at a price.
This filly by Lope De Vega is quite well related and the Cromwell family may be planning to breed off her in due course, which renders a win something all the more alluring. She was bought for buttons in March but might be okay and her Listowel debut offering when she likely needed the run was promising.