Alandi the answer
The John Oxx-trained four-year-old impressed when landing the listed Vintage Crop Stakes at Navan last month and is confidently expected to confirm his superiority over British raiders Hindu Kush and The Betchworth Kid.
A lightly-raced Galileo colt, Alandi made his belated debut at the Curragh last October and, preceded by a lofty reputation, duly justified favouritism at the expense of Street Legal and Magen’s Star.
Alandi clearly revelled in the heavy ground on that occasion. And, when he made his return to action at Navan last month, conditions were similarly testing.
Confidently and considerately handled by Michael Kinane, Alandi came through to lead approaching the furlong-pole before forging clear to slam Hindu Kush by three and a half lengths, with The Betchworth Kid just a short-head away third.
The selection meets the placed horses on 3lb. worse terms today. But he won with plenty in hand at Navan, is open to further improvement and should again prove superior. Ground conditions, officially described as ‘good’ should be just about perfect and Alandi is a confident choice to gain his second listed success.
Merveilles and Sualice, a big disappointment in very heavy ground at Tipperary last time, look pretty exposed.
But the interesting horse in the field is former champion hurdler Sublimity, a listed winner on the level (over ten furlongs) back in 2005 before embarking on his hurdling career. A Grade 1 winner at Leopardstown over Christmas, he can’t be discounted, but is probably best watched.
Earlier, the Tommy Stack-trained Clashnacree, a promising second on his debut at the Curragh, should prove tough to beat in the Irish Stallion Farms 2-Y-0 Median Auction Maiden. Well-backed prior to his debut, the Footstepsinthesand colt showed plenty of speed all the way and held every chance until being collared close home and beaten a half-length by Atasari, which did little for the form in the ‘Marble Hill’ at the weekend.
