Cross looks poised to get off mark
The nap vote falls on Aidan O’Brien’s once-raced Flying Cross, although the decision to run no less than five Ballydoyle representatives in this particular contest could hardly be described as punter-friendly.
Four of them, however, are newcomers, who will more than likely come on a bundle for the outing, whereas Flying Cross has had a run and is the choice of Johnny Murtagh.
The selection is certainly bred to be a champion, being by Sadler’s wells out of that brilliant former Henry Cecil-trained mare, Ramruma.
He was one of five O’Brien also had in a race at Navan two weeks ago, performing with distinct promise.
Flying Cross was beaten less than a length and a half into fourth behind shock winner, 25-1 shot Bogie, and has a neck and a short head to find with John Oxx’s Akinndi, who took second.
But Akinndi had the benefit of a previous spin and it isn’t unreasonable to conclude that Flying Cross has more scope for improvement!
The other non-handicap on the programme, the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Median Auction Maiden, may be best left to Thank Your Stars.
Matthieu Palussiere’s colt drops in class, having finished third behind the two form horses, Noll Wallop and Is Feidir Linn, at the Curragh ten days ago.
Dermot Weld’s Popspeed should run a big race in the first division of the Garlow Cross Handicap.
He was returning from a long absence, when third behind Snap at the Curragh at the end of August, and won’t be far away!
