Hanabad looks up to the task

HANABAD, a horse who has never run over the minimum trip, gets the vote to show that sprinting may well be his true vocation in the five furlongs Listed Abergwaun Stakes at Cork this afternoon.

John Oxx’s colt, a creditable second to the classsy Mingun over a mile at the Curragh and successful over that distance at Limerick, dropped down to six furlongs for the first time this season at the Curragh last month.

He ran a cracker, looking the likely winner for most of the journey. In the end it wasn’t to be, as Hanabad, in front with less than a quarter of a mile to run, was grabbed close home and beaten a head by useful English challenger, Fayr Jag.

This looks easier and the selection, from stall one, should take plenty of beating!

There’s a bucket of money on offer for the Listed El Gran Senor Stakes and it is hugely disappointing that only four will face the starter.

Despite the handul of runners, it is still an interesting contest, which should mainly concern Aidan O’Brien’s Cornwall and Dermot Weld’s Simple Exchange.

The latter has, arguably, the better form, having chased home Wathab at the Curragh, prior to finishing fifth behind One Cool Cat in the National Stakes, also at the Curragh.

Cornwall was very impressive when winning unextended by five lengths at Tipperary. He didn’t have a lot to beat then, but looked a colt of immense promise and gets preference.

The Goffs’ Autumn Bonus is another valuable event and the vote here falls on Con Collins’ Ocean Bounty.

He looked all at sea round the turns at Listowel, but got up in the final stride to short head one of his man rivals now, Urban (rec. 3lbs).

Ocean Bounty should be much more at home on this galloping track and can be seen in a better light on this occasion.

John Oxx’s Bayasiya, a somewhat unlucky loser last time, may redress the balance in the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Fillies Handicap.

That was at Fairyhouse a week ago, when she was beaten a short head by Sophister over seven furlongs. The daughter of Pennekamp had far from a clear run for a lot of the straight and would have scored in another stride.

At Down Royal today, Oxx’s Englishtown gets the nod in the four-runner Her Majesty’s Plate.

The son of Mark Of Esteen ran on with plenty determination when third to Cloone River and Mutakarrim in the 12 furlongs Guinness Gold Cup at Tralee.