Pirateer poised for success over longer trip
He showed nothing on his debut at the Curragh back in March, trailing home 11th and last behind High Award.
Pirateer wasn’t seen again until reapperaring at the Curragh last Saturday when, partnered by Murtagh, he finished third behind two well-backed horses in Whipless and Tashqeel.
The selection stayed on quite nicely at the end of that six furlongs and moving up in trip can only work in his favour.
Feature event is the Listed Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Fairy Bridge Stakes and this very much centres on which Gile Na Greine appears.
The one that finished second to Lily Langtry in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot, or was third in the English 1000 Guineas at Newmarket, will make short work of this opposition.
But she has thrown in a couple of a far less spectacular efforts as well and that has to be a concern.
In any case Gile Na Greine has between 12lbs and 29lbs in hand of all of her rivals and is a hopeful choice.
Richard Brabazon’s Skyway, who is improving and was only grabbed late and beaten half a length by Simla Sunset in a competitive handicap at Leopardstown last time, should go close in the Ballykisteen Rated Race.
If the market speaks in favour of the beautifully-bred Flying Cross then he will, in all probability, prove the answer to the Super Sunday On October 3rd Race.
He has, however, been off a long time and preference is for Bob Le Beau, who continued on the upgrade with another decent effort at Dundalk last time.
Smokey Joe Joe, an ex-winning pointer and with Nina Carberry in the plate, can land the nap in the Bumper at Bellewstown. His five and a half lengths second to Henro Boy at Downpatrick looks good enough.
