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We head to Gowran tomorrow with 3. The racing is extraordinarily competitive at the moment. I probably touched on this but everyone seems to have had an easy time of it this winter/spring and field sizes are through the roof. Weld and JSB are back killing it, Aidan’s are more forward than I ever remember them and it’s tough out there. Try we must. Dianthus starts back tomorrow after a long break. It’s unusual in that she has missed 9 months without a hint of a problem. She ran Irish Derby weekend late June and I trained her across July with half an eye on a Listed fillies race in Galway. She was only going ok and I decided to give her 3 weeks off. She was due to come back late August but there was only one run of the mill Leopardstown handicap for her to finish the season so we started her winter break early. She came back to be prepared for The Lincoln but a bruised foot scuppered that plan. I’m not sure the Lincoln would have worked anyway as she has gotten way ahead of herself mentally. She’s full of gas and stupidity and I can’t see her conserving enough tomorrow to be able to find at the business end of things. She looks well and is probably fit but she may need the run to get her to cop on a bit and settle in to a better routine at home. With tomorrow under her belt we can start to make a plan. She’s talented. She could get the better of Maths Prize all spring and early summer and even when he hit his peak he could only just about get the better of her off level weights. The track is where it matters however and tomorrow is hopefully a step back in the right direction. Dandy Belle is next. I was a little disappointed with her opening effort at Dundalk a few weeks back but we probably rode her wrong in a very competitive race against fit horses over a trip too far. If that’s the case then tomorrow she’ll get back on track. Getting a handle on these 3yo handicappers is very hard. This lady should be well able off her mark. She’s a fine, strong, straight forward filly that should be giving her owners plenty of fun. We’re getting a little bit away from worthwhile form and tomorrow is an important day in deciding her future.   Papal Count is in the maiden and it’s his first run for us and his 2nd in his life. He had one mediocre run as a 3yo and his owners decided to give him plenty of time. He has been tipping away and given he has been a model citizen for the last 3 months he’s entitled to a day at the races to see if he can build a little career for himself. Apocryphal or otherwise I heard a story of Mark Johnston opting to run a 2yo at the backend rather than sending him home. The horse appeared to be useless but his policy was/is to run them all to confirm or not. Anyway he struggled everywhere before staying on to get up late home. He was Double Eclipse. Let’s see….