Conditions ideal for Famous Name
Dermot Weld’s five-year-old is at his best with some cut in the ground and it seems certain will have his ideal conditions. Successful three times last season, Famous Name is unbeaten in two outings this campaign, although neither test was overly exacting.
That said, however, he made heavy weather of scrambling to a short head defeat of the well-exposed Rock Jock on this track last time. The surface was much too quick for him on that occasion, though, and it would be wrong to read too much into the bare result.
In theory Steinbeck should have the edge, on the basis is 3lbs well in with his rival. He ran a cracker when fourth to Canford Cliffs in the Irish 2000 Guineas at the Curragh and was then far too free for much of the journey when only eighth to Canford Cliffs in the St James’ Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.
It is difficult enough to get a handle on just good Steinbeck really is and preference is for Famous Name, who is rock solid.
At Limerick, Sabrina Harty’s Cooper’s Crest has to get the vote in the Irish Daily Mirror Hurdle. She ran the race of her life at Tipperary last Sunday, third to Bahrain Storm and Cuan Na Grai, and this represents a major drop in class.
