Make it Matters
He signposted that his turn would not be too long delayed at the Curragh at the end of May and chances are his trainer has had this contest in mind since then.
The son of Red Ransom was a little unlucky at the Curragh when beaten three lengths into second by Aidan O’Brien’s warm favourite, Tiffany Diamond.
He was hampered at a crucial stage and would have finished closer to the winner, although it would be quite misleading to say it cost him the race.
O’Brien now supplies the only realistic danger in Mikhail Fokine, out of his depth when last of seven, he made much of the running, behind high-class stable companion, Septimus, in a Group 3 at the Curragh on his reappearance.
Mikhail Fokine is rated 7lbs better than his rival, but Weld, as the whole world knows, is a law unto himself at this meeting and Matters At Hand is the choice.
Weld’s Prince Erik will obviously be popular in the St James’ Gate Race, but is 13lbs wrong with John Oxx’s Alarazi and that’s a worry.
Blinkers seemed to set Alarazi alight in a Group 3 at the Curragh on his latest outing. He went a blistering pace and had nothing left in the closing stages, fading to finish a poor fifth behind Plan. The blinkers are now left off.
Previously, Alarazi was in a different league, compared to this opposition, when a head second to Regime in another Group 3, also at the Curragh.
But he is far certain to get this mile and six and Prince Erik, there are no such doubts and given a spin in a ladies race at the Curragh, gets the vote.
Michael Kinane, who has a terrific record here over the years, partners Alarazi and also has prospects aboard Salute Him in the featured Guinness Handicap. Tony Martin’s five-year-old was nabbed close home and beaten a neck by Fantoche in the Ulster Derby at Down Royal, when, perhaps, too much use was made of him!
Cristal Island, runner-up behind Gluteus Maximus at Leopardstown last week, could provide the answer to a moderate Guinness Auction Maiden.
