Horatio Nelson can lord it over Futurity rivals
Often such races are saved by the quality of the contestants, but it’s certainly not the case here and this is a moderate event of its type.
The vote has to fall on the unbeaten Horatio Nelson. He made his debut at headquarters in June and, despite being very light in the market, made all the running to beat subsequent winner Heliostatic and Violani.
Michael Halford again throws down the gauntlet with Violani, who went on to score narrowly at Tipperary, before returning to that track to finish three parts of a length second to Heatseeker.
But Horatio Nelson has clearly progressed since his debut as well, taking the Group Three Superlative Stakes by an easy two and a half lengths at Newmarket last month.
Happy To Chat, who is capable of putting a good-sized bank to the wall, is given a final chance to come good in the Lanwades and Staffordstown Studs Fillies Maiden.
She again proved a costly failure at Gowran Park last time, finding little in the closing stages when beaten into third spot behind Skyscape and Sancia. This looks her best opportunity to date and, bravely, she gets the nap!
Swiss Cottage, given a confidence booster with an easy touch in a conditions race at Fairyhouse, can defy top weight in the Racing Post Casino Handicap.
At Gowran Park tomorrow, David Wachman’s Luas Line is the one to be on in the featured Denny Cordell Lavarack Memorial Stakes.
She comes here in fine shape, having beaten Fairy Of The Night by two and a half lengths at Cork. Fairy Of The Night boosted the form when scoring at Tipperary on Thursday.
John Oxx’s Siniyya, touched off late by Tauranga at Wexford, is fancied to go one better in the Kilkenny Racing Festival 7/8 October Maiden.
Most interesting event at Cork tomorrow is the four-runner Kevin McManus Bookmaker Novice Chase. It seems reasonably safe to narrow this down to Khairambar and Monjoyau.
Khairambar was impressive when winning at Wexford, but Monjoyau, who stormed away from Star Horse and Seaforde at Galway, is preferred.
John Kiely’s Kyber Pass has looked distinctly ordinary in bumpers, but may be seen in a better light with a set of obstacles in front of him in the Fleming Construction Maiden Hurdle.
The seven-year-old hinted he was capable of winning a race when second behind Slick Vick at Ballinrobe and the booking of Paul Carberry is an obvious positive.
