Set sail with ’Navigator
He was a costly failure in the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes at headquarters less than two weeks ago, failing by a length to cope with shock winner, Saoirse Abu.
It may pay to forgive him that disappointing effort. The ground was very testing and, as well as that, the Kingmambo colt was having his first outing for some two months, having been rested since taking the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Saoirse Abu’s stable companion New Approach is the obvious danger. Unbeaten in two races, he’s a horse who only does enough and could give the selection a good test.
The Listed Cill Dara Securities Ballycullen Stakes is best left to John Oxx’s Hasanka. She was returning from a break when beaten a short head by Downtown at Cork and will surely strip shaper for that outing.
Kevin Prendergast’s Houston Dynimo gets the vote in valuable Tattersalls Ireland Sale Stakes.
Narrowly beaten by the smart Domestic Fund at Leopardstown last time, he has the best of the draw in one.
At Tralee today, Joe Crowley’s Conquistadores rates the nap in the Tom McGiff Heating and Plumbing Maiden Hurdle.
He has been improving steadily, producing a career-best effort at Wexford on his latest appearance when runner-up behind Mudslinger.
Partnered on that occasion by an inexperienced 7lbs claiming amateur, Conquistadores is now ridden by Ruby Walsh.
The progressive Niall Madden-trained Smuggler’s Song gets a confident nod in the Bank Of Ireland Novice Chase.
He ran a cracking race when second to the smart Prairie Moonlight at Galway and had the more than useful Emotional Article behind in third.
Vicars Bay, second to Noble Crusader at Cork and to Melana Star at Limerick, looks a likely one in the Bumper.
In the Bumper at Ballinrobe tomorrow, Cuchulains Son, third to Perlogan at Listowel, can oblige.
Tomorrow also sees all-weather racing swinging into action in Ireland when Dundalk throws open its gates to the public for the first time.
Hopefully, we will make a positive start and Celtic Dane, a very unlucky fifth behind Incline at Galway, can land the nap in the MCR Group EBF August Handicap.
