Blanco can enhance reputation
Appropriately, he is a son of Galileo and unbeaten in two races to date. Cape Blanco scrambled to victory first time up on this track and then made dramatic improvement when tackling the Group 3 Tyros Stakes at Leopardstown.
A big order morning-prices and later on the track as well, the selection went off a prohibitive 1-2 shot.
But even those cramped odds were generous as he made most of the running and cruised home three and a half lengths clear of Marfach, who can have little chance of reversing the placings on the same terms.
The surface is set to be very testing now, but that shouldn’t unduly worry Cape Blanco, who handled ground on the soft side with aplomb at Leopardstown.
The Listed Ballycullen Stakes revolves around John Oxx’s Alandi, who has to leave a poor effort at Leopardstown last time solidly behind if he is going to deliver now.
He could only manage fifth of six then behind Profound Beauty and has three and a half lengths to make up on stable companion, Aliyfa, on just a pound better terms.
Alandi, however, is a real mud-lark and the yielding ground may just have been a shade on the fast side for him.
Previously, he was seen in a more favourable light when a somewhat unlucky neck second to Profound Beauty at the Curragh.
The fact Michael Kinane remains faithful to Alandi is encouraging, John Oxx has three in the contest, and the four-year-old gets the nap to redeem his reputation.
The hugely valuable Tattersalls Ireland Sale Stakes over six furlongs is best left to Richard Hannon’s Dick Turpin.
He is one of the best juveniles in Britain, unbeaten in three races, with the latest success coming in the Group 2 Richmond Stakes at Goodwood. Hannon has won this prize on five occasions previously.
At Cork today, Kevin Prendergast’s Captainofthefleet can land the opener, the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Median Auction Maiden. He was beaten half a length and the same into third behind Dan Noir and Lyle Lady at Galway on his debut, a race which is working out quite well.
At Cork tomorrow row in with Paul Deegan’s promising Moonreach in the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Maiden.
He made a cracking start when third to Beethoven and Clashnacree at Leopardstown and, hopefully, will build on that.
Raise Your Heart, who performed far better in the Galway Hurdle than his final placing might suggest, gets the nod in the J P McManus Hurdle.
