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Filly expected to improve for the run

Classic-winning handler Ken Condon takes the wraps off another of his stable stars as Mamba Noire returns to action in the Glencairn Stakes at Leopardstown on Thursday.

The Wootton Bassett filly was placed three times in Group-race company last term, chasing home the likes of Clemmie in the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes and Threading in the Lowther, before ending her juvenile career on a mark of 101.

Mamba Noire steps up in trip to a mile for this Listed event and will have to take on six older rivals.

Condon said: “She’s stepping up in trip, but she trains like she will be OK. She’s not run since August, though, so we would expect her to come on for the run.

“She wasn’t quite where we wanted her in the spring, so we sent her home for a few weeks and she came back, came in her coat and has been moving well. It can just happen with these fillies in the spring.

“Leopardstown always produces nice ground and it’s an excellent racecourse, so this looked a good starting point.

“It’s not ideal taking on the older horses, but the timing is right and she will come on for the run.”

Ger Lyons’ Tennessee Wildcat is the top-rated runner, while Marshall Jennings was a winner last time out for Jessica Harrington.

Dermot Weld’s Bella Estrella, Zorion, Allegio and Belle Boyd complete the line-up.

The other Listed heat on a competitive card is the King George V Cup, which has drawn a field of six.

Aidan O’Brien fields two in recent Curragh winner Lucius Tiberius and Navan victor Giuseppe Garibaldi.

Carlo Biraghi had the second-named runner back in third when making a winning debut at the Curragh last month and trainer Fozzy Stack is eager to see how the Irish Derby entrant fares on this rise in class.

He said: “We entered him at the weekend, but decided to go for this.

“I’ve got four Galileos – two two-year-olds and two three-year-olds – but I wish I had a few more, I know that.

“This is obviously a step up in class, but he stayed a mile and a half well at Leopardstown.

“Once you win a maiden first time out, you are almost forced into going for races like this.”

Weld’s Burgundy Boy, the Jim Bolger-trained Cimeara and Dynabee for Joseph O’Brien make up the six-strong field.