Mountain can scale Derby heights
The ground is now officially soft, with the possibility it may get even worse, and that will hold no fears for the son of Rock Of Gibraltar.
A more than useful juvenile, all the evidence thus far is that he is an even better three-year-old. Eagle Mountain emerged with credit from the English 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, finishing fifth behind Cockney Rebel.
He then contested the Epsom Derby, when given far too much to do by Johnny Murtagh. Eagle Mountain came from well off the pace to chase home the impressive Authorized, beaten five lengths.
Behind in fifth, a further three lengths plus away, was his stable companion, Soldier Of Fortune, and he could well emerge as the principal danger.
Others to consider are Al Shemali, Boscobel, and, possibly, Shamdinan. But this is a classic which almost certainly doesn’t house a future star and Eagle Mountain, who will revel in the conditions and stay every yard of the trip, seems very much the most likely winner.
Attempting to solve the Group 2 Anheuser-Busch Adventure Parks Railway Stakes is complicated by the fact Jim Bolger has left Saoirse Abu in the race.
She was due to line up in the 7.30 at headquarters last night, so her performance will have been of more than passing interest.
In any case the vote falls on the progressive South Dakota, who wasn’t disgraced, from the worst draw, behind Henrythenavigator in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot.
His previous effort at Naas bears the closest inspection. South Dakota failed by a short head to concede Pencil Hill 6lbs, with Elletelle in third spot.
Pencil Hill went on to take fourth in the Coventry, while Elletelle landed the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot.
At the Curragh this afternoon, John Oxx’s lightly-raced Timarwa is the nap choice in the Group 1 Audi Pretty Polly Stakes.
Of course this is a major step up in class for the daughter of former Irish Champion Stakes winner, Timarida, but she may well prove up to the task.
Timarwa arrives here on the back of just a maiden success on this track, beating subsequent winner Profound Beauty, but there was a style and swagger about that which was impressive.
Peeping Fawn is undoubtedly the form horse, on her close second to Light Shift in the Epsom Oaks, but has already had a busy campaign and Timarwa could surprise her.
They are a motley bunch in the At The Races Curragh Cup and this is really a Group 3 in name only. The nod falls on Mark Johnston’s Peppertree Lane, a disappointing third at Pontefract, but who is likely to relish this searching 14 furlongs test.
