'We're hoping for a big run' - can Soaring Monarch get back to winning ways in ferociously competitive handicap?

The 1m4f John McGuire Handicap should prove a lively betting heat as plenty arrive with chances and Soaring Monarch could be the one to side with after three encouraging runs in premier handicaps.

Trained by Alan McIntyre, he shaped very nicely when beaten a length and a quarter into third by Eagle's Way at Galway last month before everything went wrong for him in the Irish Cambridgeshire. He was seemingly full of running at the two-furlong marker but met a wall of horses and suffered significant interference twice, doing well to be beaten just six and a half lengths.

Under more positive tactics last time out at the Curragh, he travelled powerfully into the lead early in the straight before being collared by three more patiently ridden rivals. The step back up to 1m4f should suit, given his Galway run came over that trip on soft ground, and he rates the each-way pick.

No Niki No gained a deserved victory last time out, showing plenty of resolve in fending off Beechwood in the Connacht Oaks. The form of that race couldn't be working out much better, with the runner-up bolting up in a Listed race next time out and the third, who the front two pulled four lengths clear of, landing a handicap in good style since. She's a hardy front-runner who will stay this trip and is a big player.

Vestigia is stepping up in trip, but it should suit given he saw out 1m2f on soft ground well at Roscommon when last seen. He's been running consistently well in strong conditions races and should be thereabouts back in handicap company.

Gerard O'Leary saddles two with claims and his Scholarship is a particularly interesting contender if he sees out this distance. He went as low as 1.08 in running when beaten by Set Point in the Ladies Derby at the Curragh in June on his penultimate start and the pair pulled five and a half lengths clear of the field.

He'll be arriving on the scene late and is definitely capable off his current mark.

Going update

The ground is good, good to yielding in places. It is forecast to be mainly dry and overcast, with the possibility of isolated showers Sunday evening and over the coming days (1-3 mm approximately).

What they say

Eoghan O'Neill, trainer of No Niki No
The extra two furlongs should suit her. She's had a nice break since Sligo and the ground should suit. The second and third from Sligo have won since, so the form looks solid.

Alan McIntyre, trainer of Soaring Monarch
We were very happy with his run at the Curragh in a strong race. He's been consistent all year and ran a cracker at Galway over this trip on soft ground. He ran well in the Cambridgeshire but got no luck in running and ran into a few brick walls. We're hoping for a big run and it would be great for Old Leighlin stables and the Holians [owners] if he could win.

Sheila Lavery, trainer of Vestigia
He's in good form and he'll appreciate the step up in trip. The blinkers helped him concentrate at Roscommon and he's better on better ground. 

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